About 250 trees were planted on Sunday in an area near downtown Maple Ridge that used to be frequented by transients.

TD Friends of the Environment - affiliated with TD Bank - were in the Cliff Avenue Park area just west of the Haney Bypass, planting trees in three different areas covering about half an acre.

This year TD Bank will plant 40,000 trees in 135 sites across the country.

Dave Speers, neighbourhood development coordinator for the District of Maple Ridge, said the project was something the District had in mind, and more work will still be needed.

But, he added, when TD contacted them, they jumped at the oppportunity.

"It was great timing," he said, noting they're hoping to eventually do more of the same - but these three sites were the only ones that were safe enough for the volunteers to be working in.

There were seven people from TD Bank helping plant the trees, as well as the Second Pitt Meadows Guide troop, community volunteers, and Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin.

Usually, TD Friends of the Environment go into established parks to plant trees. This was a different kind of project - restoring and reclaiming a park area.

"This was really nice - it was cleaning up the area, as well," said site manager Jon Norman of the TD Bank.

mrantanen@mrtimes.com