An area by Bow Meadows at the confluence of Jumping Pound Creek and Bow River was the site of the 21st annual Branches and Banks, on October 1.

Cochrane Environmental Action Committee (CEAC) along with 23 volunteers and few Town of Cochrane staff, planted 270 trees in hopes to bring back the environmental reserve.

Tim Giese, CEAC President, says it will be a multi-phased project.

"It will take several years to do it but this will really kickstart it because we did go with bigger stock this year so it has a much higher visibility profile then we normally would have had. So I think it will serve as an inspiration and a focal point for future events that Branches and Banks and the town can do together."

Giese would love to see more people get involved in future Branches and Banks events not just for the sake of planting trees, but raising the bar on environmental awareness.

"The more people we can reach out to, the more people we connect with, the stronger we make our connection with the community and the environment."

Branches and Banks has had up to 300 volunteers in years past, the next Branches and Banks is being planned for May 2017.