Tick Tick… Spring Ticks!

Since the weather is warming up, the insects are starting to come out. That includes the ticks living in our area. Have a look at the NCC’s Tick information post to find out how to deal with these half spiders at https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/blog/tick-safety-in-the-capital

Homes Wanted for Tree Saplings

Are you willing to provide a foster home for a tree sapling?

The Champlain Park Enviro Committee is looking for caretakers of small, potted trees that will eventually make their way into public spaces in the community. The term for taking care of plants can range from a few months to two years, depending on species and how quickly we can find a permanent home. Learn about and share your knowledge of native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, while also helping to create a legacy urban forest and healthy environment.

If you would be interested in becoming a member of our Caretaker Network, volunteering as Champlain Park Plant Caretaker, please complete the Caretaker registration form and one of the Project Coordinators will get back you.

Thanking you in advance for your interest.

For more details on the Champlain Park Plant Caretaker please visit the Projects homepage

Big Trees and Mechanicsville Promoting Trees vs Embassies

Via Heather and Daniel:

Mechanicsville Community Association and Big Trees of Kitchissippi invite you to make your voice count in efforts to say YES to more trees and No to embassies at the NCC Burnside property on the Ottawa River in Kitchissippi Ward.

First, send a video message (hug) to Councillors and Federal Ministers before Earth Day next week, using this simple video platform: https://app.vidhug.com/yes-to-trees-no-to-embassies-/HyZ-FoNL_/record

Use your phone, or record directly on the platform, indoors or (preferably) outdoors to say Yes (and No).

Second, sign this petition calling on the City of Ottawa and NCC to honour their commitments to addressing the climate emergency, by saying Yes to more trees on the site, and No to embassies: See Petition

Urban Foraging Webinar – April 22

Via Roland…

https://hamptoniona.wordpress.com/2021/04/15/urban-foraging-101-webinar/

You are invited to a free webinar on April 22 by the Hampton Iona Community Group. We are pleased to sponsor a webinar by the Friends of Hampton Park and Carlington Park on Urban Foraging. Learn what is available out in your neighbourhood, what can be safely eaten and how to forage in an environmentally, sustainable way. The webinar will take place this Thursday, April 22 from 7:30 pm to 9 pm.

To register for this free webinar, please email urbanweedeater@gmail.com. The Zoom link and other details will be sent Wednesday April 21.

Lorne Cutler
President
Hampton Iona Community Group
http://www.hamptoniona.ca/

Urban Naturalization & Pollinators Webinar – April 22

Via Kris…

Urban Naturalization & Pollinators Webinar

This webinar will teach you everything you need to know about how important urban naturalization is. You also won’t want to miss the launch of our first ever Spring Pollinator Plant Fundraiser! We’ll be going over the native plants that will be on sale and how you can start your very own pollinator garden.

Speakers:

Natasha Jovanovic, our very own Living City Program Manager
Jess Karafilov, a graduate of Masters of Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph and one of Ecology Ottawa’s lead volunteers

The webinar will take place on Zoom. The recording of the webinar will be sent to all RSVPs for those who are unable to attend.

Thursday, April 22nd from 6-7 pm EST

https://2020-ecologyottawa.nationbuilder.com/webinar_pollinator_garden

Trees, Birds and Money

Subject: Trees and birds, oh the joy of it
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2021 11:27:16 -0400
From: Daniel Buckles <dbuckles@sas2.net>

Trees help make Champlain Park a special neighbourhood in this part of the city, and no doubt add to the property value and enjoyment of residents (studies show generally a 10-15% increase in property value due to trees, and many direct human health benefits as well).

Native tree species are particularly important because they harbour native insects that recognize them as food sources and good places to lay their eggs. The Norway Maple and Japanse Lilac, while lovely in their own way, confuse insects looking for food and habitat, making them less desirable tree species for a healthy ecosystem. The same logic applies to shrubs and herbaceous plants: native is better for insects.

Anywhere insects go, birds follow. If you enjoy birds, Champlain Park and the nearby woods have lots to offer, including a recent visit from a flock of Bohemian Waxwings and perennial sightings of the solitary Pileated Woodpecker (among many others).

It now seems that birds make us as happy as money, in fact, an extra $190 a month according to a study of 25 European countries. Check out a media report on the study here: https://nationalpost.com/news/world/birds-make-you-as-happy-as-money-study-finds

NCC Forest Feedback

Public consultation on the NCC Forest Strategy

The National Capital Commission (NCC) invites you to participate in an online public consultation on its Forest Strategy.

This strategy will guide how the NCC manages forests and trees on its lands. It will align our efforts, and prepare us to meet current and future challenges. Previous rounds of public consultation on the strategy were held in June and October 2019. We are now in the final phase of developing this strategy.

Through this online consultation, you’ll have an opportunity to:

learn about the context of the strategy, including the challenges affecting our trees and forests;
review the strategy’s proposed vision, goals, long-term objectives and short-term actions;
read the full draft of the strategy; and
provide feedback on the strategy before it is finalized.

We invite you to provide your input via the comment box on the Forest Strategy webpage from February 16 to March 3, 2021.

STAY CONNECTED
Follow the NCC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

National Capital Commission | Commission de la capitale nationale
40 Elgin St, Ottawa | 40, rue Elgin, Ottawa
613-239-5000
1-800-465-1867 toll free | sans frais
info@ncc-ccn.ca

Objections to New Embassy Row + February 10 Webinar

Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2021 08:38:55 -0500
From: DANIEL BUCKLES <dbuckles@sas2.net>
Subject: Solidarity with Mechanicsville Community Association

[…] The affected lands are very close to us so is relevant to our neighbourhood as well, and likely to become even more relevant over time. […]

Please write to the NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum (c/o assistant Sarah.Skrzek@ncc-ccn.ca) to indicate your solidarity with a call by the Mechanicsville Community Association and Big Trees of Kitchissippi to withdraw its plan to build diplomatic offices and parking lots on prime greenspace along the Ottawa River. Consider participating as well in an online forum on the development hosted by Councillor Leiper.
Continue reading “Objections to New Embassy Row + February 10 Webinar” →

Launching the Goldenrod Community Garden

Call for volunteers for a Community Garden approved for NCC land, west of the Parkdale off-ramp.

Dear Community Garden supporters,

The Goldenrod Community Garden has recently received approval to build a garden on a parcel of NCC land between Goldenrod Drive in the Tunney’s Pasture Complex and the SJAM Parkway. The garden location is just west of the Parkdale off-ramp of the SJAM Parkway.

We received approval and funding from the Ottawa Community Garden Network (a City of Ottawa agent) to purchase materials to build the garden infrastructure including: fencing, a storage shed and raised beds. We anticipate that we will start building as soon as the snow melts in the spring of 2021, approximately mid-April.

We are looking for members of the Hintonburg, Mechanicsville, Champlain Park and Westboro communities who are interested in participating in building the Goldenrod Community Garden in a number of roles. Please read the roles below and send an email with your name, availability and role to: goldenrodgarden@gmail.com
Continue reading “Launching the Goldenrod Community Garden” →

SJAM Winter Trail – Christmas Tree Reuse

The SJAM Winter Trail is collecting cleaned up Christmas Trees for use as a windbreak. Yes, your #xmas2020 tree still have a lot more lovin’ to give! Your little sweet heart can spend the rest of the winter sheltering the wind and making this rest area, or what we call the #NordicVillage, a winter’s paradise. @NCC_CCN

We are accepting your recycled Christmas Trees at 2 locations:

Remic Rapids Park

Next to the Remic Rapids outhouse – https://twitter.com/SJAMWinterTrail/status/1079026309425229825

Champlain Park

Behind the Baseball diamond net in the Champlain Park

Many thanks, these trees will be further recycled as mulch after the winter season.