In 2020, the historic Retro Suites Hotel embarked on a new green initiative and has partnered with the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority and ReLeaf Chatham-Kent to introduce a do-not-disturb initiative for hotel guests.
Hotel officials say the program encourages hotel guests to pass on room service during their stay, whereby Retro Suites Hotel reduces their carbon footprint and purchases trees to be planted within Chatham-Kent.
Over 600 native trees have been planted over the last two years through this endeavor.
Last spring, 200 saplings of native trees were given away to locals, with planting advice provided by the community group ReLeaf, by founder Mike Smith himself.
ReLeaf Chatham-Kent has since formed a partnership with the Sydenham Field Naturalists, which is Chatham-Kent’s only naturalist club – formed in 1985.
This year, Retro Suites Hotel has donated larger trees to help kickoff a fundraising effort to support both the Sydenham Field Naturalists, as well as the Lower Thames and St. Clair Region Conservation Authorities.
Native trees and shrubs will be auctioned off in the ReLeaf Chatham-Kent Facebook group every day for the next two weeks.
“We are very fortunate to have groups like SFN and our conservation authorities working to preserve and create new natural habitats in CK,” said ReLeaf CK founder Mike Smith, in a media release.
“Partnerships with amazingly supportive businesses like Retro Suites that recognize the value of the environment to our community are vital to accomplishing our goals.”
Founded in 2019 by North Buxton resident Mike Smith, ReLeaf Chatham-Kent has over 1,000 members and regularly holds events that aim to help people increase wildlife habitat and biodiversity in their own backyards.
