Category: Champlain Oaks Project

A Neighbouring Project about Neighbourhood Oak Trees, their home page is http://www.champlainoaks.com/

Legacy Trees Carry on Forest Genes

(longer version with photos at http://www.champlainoaks.com/2017/09/legacy-trees-carry-on-forest-genes/)

Discovering the family story DNA can tell reminds us of just how diverse genetic roots can be in a human life. Farmers know that the genetic variations within wheat, corn, millets and other food plants hold the key to disease resistance and future food security.

The same value comes from keeping forest genes going. The genes of the bur oaks honoured in Champlain Park on National Tree Day are an unbroken genetic code from the end of the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago. Over multiple generations, the cycle of acorn to mature tree has repeated itself in our neighbourhood over and over again. Along the way, the offspring adapted to the thin soils, dry spells and periodic flooding of the Ottawa River shoreline between Chaudière Falls and Des Chênes Rapids. More recently, they adapted to life in the city.
Continue reading “Legacy Trees Carry on Forest Genes” →

Bur Oaks to Receive Heritage Status – September 27

Daniel Buckles writes:

On National Tree Day (Wednesday, September 27) Forests Ontario will be at the Steve and Kay Kot house (124 Cowley) at 10 AM to announce the induction of four “Champlain Oaks” into the provincial Heritage Tree program. Three other trees (on Keyworth and Daniel Ave) are also being acknowledged in the Heritage Tree Program.

Here is a link to the Champlain Oaks announcement and profiles of 4 trees that will receive heritage status from Forests Ontario on National Tree Day 2017. http://www.champlainoaks.com/2017/09/forests-ontario-to-honour-bur-oaks-as-heritage-trees/

Join us to celebrate trees and the natural heritage of our community.

Invitation to contribute to the local Community Forest

The Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) and the National Capital Commission (NCC) have entered into an agreement to cooperate in the management of the forested area on NCC land between Northwestern Avenue and Island Park Drive north of Premier Avenue. This agreement enables the CPCA to promote and facilitate community projects aimed at improving the forest area. Following is a statement of the goals and objectives of the programme and guidelines for individuals and groups that wish to contribute ideas, time and resources.

The NCC forest bordering our community is an integral part of the community experience. Transformed from its natural state by cottage development in the 1900s and severely damaged by the 1998 ice storm, it currently serves as an area for walking, a home for wildlife and a buffer between the community and traffic on the Ottawa River Parkway.

The overall goal of the Community Forest Management Programme is to bring improvements to the forest consistent with the following objectives:

  • A gradual succession of the flora and fauna towards a mature forest comprised of native species of trees, shrubs and ground cover;
  • Removal of and strict avoidance of plant species known to be invasive or inappropriate to a native forest;
  • Maintaining a safe, accessible and litter-free environment for people of all ages;
  • Supporting opportunities for educational and recreational experiences in the forest and;
  • Enhancing pathways and connections between Champlain Park, the Ottawa River and the broader community

An informal Committee has been established to promote and facilitate community projects consistent with the overall goals and specific objectives of the programme.

A bur oak named "Canada Day 2015"
A bur oak named “Canada Day 2015”

 

The first action under the agreement with the NCC was the planting on Canada Day (2015) of a local bur oak sapling 10 metres to the west of the Carleton entrance to the forest. It is protected by a small fence, and watered by nature and dog walkers.

 

 
The Committee plans to develop a list of about 10 projects to be submitted in late February to the NCC as an initial set for their approval. Other projects will be added periodically. Projects discussed so far include:

  1. An inventory and mapping of current forest cover (trees, shrubs and ground cover, distinguishing between native, invasive and inappropriate species);
  2. Safe removal in selected areas of invasive and harmful plant species including Poison Ivy, Garlic mustard, Honey suckle, Japanese knot weed, and Dog strangling vine;
  3. Collection of deadwood from selected areas for chipping by the NCC and redistribution of wood chips to improve existing pathways;
  4. Planting in selected areas seed or cuttings of native species, with particular attention to shrubs (for example, xxx) and ground cover (trillium, xxx);
  5. Placement by the NCC of a garbage can at the Patricia Avenue entrance to the forest;
  6. Interpretive signs in a few locations describing some of the natural and cultural features of the forest;
  7. Naming the forest in a way recognizes the human and natural heritage of the area

You are invited to contribute project ideas or give time and resources to bring about improvements to the forest. You can do so by contacting members of the programme committee listed below.

If you have a specific project to suggest,

  • Outline in writing what it is you wish to do and indicate where in the forest it would happen (we will have a map with grid sections available shortly, for easy reference);
  • State how the project fits into the overall goal and specific objectives of the programme.
  • Indicate who will be involved, and how you intend to safely mobilize the people and other resources needed.

Approved projects will operate under the general protection of the CPCA liability insurance policy.

Discuss your ideas with any of the following committee members: Adrian Bradley (chair), Daniel Buckles, Eloise Holland, Roland Dorsay, John Arnason, Dennis Vanstaalduinen, Nick Xenos, Jen Neate and Allan Ramunas.

Premiere Ave at Carleton Ave loses a big tree to development

The intersection of Carleton Avenue at Scott Street is a main gateway to our community, for pedestrians and vehicles alike. For more than a year many of us have watched with vigilance as two new houses have gone up at the corner of Carleton & Premiere Avenues.

What will happen with the two majestic silver maples on the property, we wondered? The community association diligently cajoled the developer into promising to retain and protect these two trees, in exchange for their support for the variances required. Many visits by forestry services and discussions with the developer about keeping machinery away and minimizing excavation ensued. As construction drew to a close it seemed the trees would survive, to provide relief and life next to the tall exterior of the buildings. More than a year of effort and worry seemed to be behind us.

This week the tree in the backyard of the property was severely damaged by new excavation on either side of the vital roots. Two pits, one on each side of the silver maple’s majestic trunk, may be designed for hot tubs. (See photographs of the backyard tree with one of the 5 ft deep pits in foreground).

20151218_091208_resized20151218_091143_resized_2

Forestry Services has concluded that the new excavations have destabilized the tree to such an extent that it is a safety hazard and will need to be removed. The developer will be charged with violating the Urban Tree Conservation By-law (damage to a distinctive tree).

This is something but is it enough? Not when our community once again loses something that makes it a unique and desirable place to live: a really big tree. They are falling one by one. A main gateway to our community will never again be graced with anything so lovely as a healthy, thriving silver maple tree. We mourn its loss.

–submitted by Daniel Buckes & Debra Huron dbuckles@sympatico.ca
The Champlain Oaks project reported on and chronicled the demise of this tree during 2014: http://www.champlainoaks.com/2014/12/a-graphic-chronicle-of-damage/

“The 25th Hour – If A Tree Falls” Video on Protecting Champlain Park Trees

Subject: Video by Carleton U students features tree protection in Champlain Park
Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2015 14:11:36 -0500
From: Debra Huron <dhuron@sympatico.ca>

Daniel Buckles and Erin Topping, with her children, are featured in a new video by four Carleton University journalism students. Councillor Jeff Leiper is also interviewed in the video, produced by Amy Thatcher, Craig Lord, Owen Maxwell and Aishu Ravishankar.

The students’ video looks at the conflict between large trees in our neighbourhood and the large footprint infill doubles and large private homes being built: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAXqFMFA-NQ

While many of us think that celebrating our large bur oaks is a good thing, I want to be clear that just as many people are indifferent or even hostile to what seems like a motherhood issue: protecting the healthy, mature trees that beautify the neighbourhood. I have had someone tell me, “The bur oak is not an endangered species; why should we be concerned about it?”

My answer is that the bur oaks in our neighbourhood ARE endangered, due to human activities and the city’s infill policy which allows builders to squeeze buildings into every sq. foot of space on lots. Other trees on the endangered list, based on those that have died recently, are silver maples and black walnuts. While I appreciate what Councillor Leiper has to say about “push-back” with the Planning department to amend the size of buildings, I want to know how this can happen in the face of an Official Plan that supports infill development and a lack of coordination among Forestry Services, planning, building permit, legal, and by-law enforcement departments within the City? This may be something to explore with our Councillor at his next Ward Forum, slated for early January 2016.

/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\
Debra Isabel Huron
I provide writing, editing, and training
to help you communicate more clearly
Visit my website to sign up for e-newsletters
Follow me on Twitter @debraisabel
Telephone: 613-859-8049
/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\

Volunteer Tree Rep for Champlain Park needed

Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2015 09:55:30 -0400
From: Debra Huron <dhuron@sympatico.ca>

Do you care about protecting the big trees in Champlain Park, and would you like to be part of a group active in Kitchissippi Ward that is doing just that?

The current tree rep from Champlain Park is going to be away from Canada for a few months and BIG TREES of Kitchissippi is looking for someone from Champlain Park to represent Champlain Park community association on the ward-wide group.

To learn more and apply for this exciting position as a tree protector in Kitchissippi, contact
Debra Huron 613 859 8049
or dhuron@sympatico.ca

Check out this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BIGTREESofKitchissippi/

/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\
Debra Isabel Huron
I provide writing, editing, and training to help you communicate more clearly
Visit my website to sign up for e-newsletters
Follow me on Twitter @debraisabel
Telephone: 613-859-8049
/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\/|||\

National Tree Day & Big Trees of Kitchissippi

Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2015 08:41:41 -0400
From: Debra Huron <dhuron@sympatico.ca>

Dear Champlain Park residents,

Today is National Tree Day. We are surrounded by big trees that make our lives better.

Celebrate the trees around you. Join in the fight to protect them. Do you subscribe to the Oaks blog? http://www.champlainoaks.com/

Attached is a news release that BIG TREES of Kitchissippi has released today (PDF).

I also want to let you know of two events happening at Lansdowne Park:

1) City of Ottawa is launching its Urban Forest Management Strategy today…come if you wish, don’t worry about signing up. Supporters of BIG TREES of Kitchissippi will be on hand.
http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/public-consultations/environment/urban-forest-management-plan

2) Tree Fest begins today and will run for two weeks. The Champlain Oaks project is profiled in the photo exhibit. http://treefestottawa.org/

Big Trees of Kitchissippi.jpeg
News_Urban Tree Canopy in Jeopardy_Sept 23.pdf

Can you sew? Will you make a tree?

cropped-Champlain-Oaks-Logo-v1The tree reps from community associations in Kitchissippi, and from the Champlain Oaks Project, want to create a tree mascot.

It will be life-size and it will walk! The mascot will support our work in protecting mature trees in Kitchissippi Ward and beyond.

If you know how to sew, have equipment to handle bulky cloth, and would like to volunteer your time, we welcome you to step forward.

We will do fund-raising to pay for all supplies and materials, and we have suggestions for a pattern.

We just need YOUR expertise.

Please contact Debra Huron dhuron@sympatico.ca
or call 613-859-8049.

Celebrating National Tree Day! Wed Sept. 24

All residents of Champlain Park are invited to an early morning celebration
on National Tree Day, Weds. Sept. 24.

Candidates running for City Council in the municipal election have been invited to attend.

Please click on this PDF for details.

In addition, St. George School has invited The Champlain Oaks Project to plant a bur oak sapling on the school grounds on National Tree Day. This will happen at 10:45 a.m. Weds. Sept. 21 near the entrance to St. George School. Three classes of students will be on hand, and principal of the school will say a few words. Residents of Champlain Park are welcome to attend this tree planting, too.