January 31, 2010

Tree Removal In Royal City Park – A Child’s View

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A young mom was visiting Royal City Park with her son, where 52 trees deemed to be unsafe by the City of Guelph are being removed.  She sent this sensitive account to GUFF, and gave us permission to publish it.

My son thought that the signs on the trees were because people were saying that they were cool trees and this one (pictured) had a built-in fort (the big one that has 3 trunks all together.)

I read the sign to him, and said that the ribbons were there because these trees were going to be cut down.

He said, “Why are they going to cut them down?”

I responded, “Because they are old.”

And his profound kid response was, “Why don’t they just let them fall down?”

I smiled, at how amazing it was that a 6 year old could be so smart, and then was sad.

Sometimes the answers are so clear, but then the world puts it all upside down.

Guelph Urban Forest Friends have long been advocating for our urban trees, including a stronger protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees.

If you feel strongly about this issue, please contact Mayor and Council. Please help us try and stop the tree removal in Royal City Park from happening elsewhere in the city.

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

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January 8, 2010

Royal City Park Trees Marked For Removal… Soon They Will Just Be A Memory

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Condemned For Removal... Can We Not Do Better?

It seems that the 52 mature trees in Royal City Park condemned for removal have now been marked with bright orange “X”s indicating that they are to be cut down. The removal of the trees is expected to be carried out next week.

In the meantime local people, who love the trees in the park, have started attaching poems and stories to the condemned trees as an act of commemoration.

In early December, 35 people attended a vigil in the park to commemorate the trees and talk about how they will be personally affected by the avoidable loss of yet more of our green heritage.

You can listen to the powerful audio from the vigil courtesy of the Royal City Rag blog, www.royalcityrag.ca here:

The removal of the trees will permanently alter the character and beauty of the park. 25% of the canopy of the park will disappear overnight, permanently changing the character of the park.

You have to ask why so many trees need to be removed at the same time.

Have the trees in this park been managed appropriately by the city? Are trees in other areas of the city also at risk?

Guelph Urban Forest Friends have long been advocating for our urban trees, including a stronger protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees.

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map

 

December 2, 2009

City Council Approves Removal Of 52 Mature Trees In Royal City Park

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On November 23, Guelph City Council approved an Operations Dept. plan to remove 52 mature trees from Royal City Park. GUFF and Sierra Club Canada made delegations explaining why some of the trees should be retained. 

Read the GUFF presentation

Read the Sierra Club Canada presentation

At the council meeting, Councilor Piper requested that the citizens be encouraged to buy trees for planting in the park next spring. Our response is below.

If you have concerns about the reduction of our urban forest canopy, please contact  your councilors and request that some of our tax base go to maintenance and protection of our trees. The budget is being discussed December 8 at City Council.

Dear Councillor Piper:

Regarding your suggestion for GUFF to support citizen donations of trees for Royal City Park .

The goal of GUFF has always been to advocate for tree maintenance and protection, as well as increase, through having an urban forestry department with a forester. This person, as head of a separate, dedicated department could also coordinate the public education for the value of our mature canopy which is so necessary in the face of extreme climate events in our future. Of course, there would be a strong protective bylaw for delivery of this vital service.

That said, many Guffers do enjoy planting trees with the wonderful Speed River Project every year. Many also take part in the annual Rotary sponsored tree planting outside the city at Guelph Lake. Although the thousands of trees planted in the township contribute to our benefits of greening, we do need more trees inside the city to counter the heat island effect that comes from a busy city with its grey infrastructure and  transportation corridors. I wonder if Guelph Rotary would be interested in planting in the city next spring.

GUFF has listed many benefits of trees in our new powerpoint on Sustainable Guelph. We hope that you will look at it and pass it on…. and will support Guelph’s canopy with a strong protective tree bylaw, an urban forestry department and a forester.

Thanks for sharing GUFF’s concern for our ‘upstanding residents’, the trees.

Respectfully yours,

Guelph Urban Forest Friends

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map

 

December 2, 2009

Sustainable Guelph Presentation

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November 2, 2009

City Of Guelph Lays Charges After Carson Reid Clear-cutting

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Carson Reid Clearcut web

Clear-cutting on Victoria Road, June 2009

The City of Guelph have laid 151 charges against three companies as a result of an investigation into clear-cutting in the south-east end of Guelph on land owned by the developer, Carson Reid.

The incident occurred in June at 2007 Victoria Road South. The City’s By-law Compliance and Enforcement Officers completed their investigation into the incident in September, and charges are scheduled for a first appearance before the Ontario Court of Justice – Provincial Offences division on November 23, 2009.

Under the City of Guelph’s tree by-law, it is an offence to injure or destroy a tree, or cause or permit a tree to be injured or destroyed within the city. If found guilty of such an offence, a person or an organization could be subject to a fine between $500 and $2,000 per offence.

Although this by-law is not as protective as Guff Guelph would like its good to see the city taking a firm stand on this incident.

Its also interesting to note that Carson Reid also own River Valley Developments, the quarry at the centre 0f serious concern about blasting below the aquitard, the protective layer over our local aquifer (see Wellington Waterwatchers Press release below).

 

WELLINGTON WATERWATCHERS PRESS RELEASE
October 16, 2009

Continued quarrying is threatening Guelph’s Water Supply while Provincial Ministries stall.

Wellington Water Watchers, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration and conservation of drinking water in Guelph and Wellington County, are gravely concerned about the threat to the City of Guelph’s drinking water supply resulting from continued blasting at the DoLime Quarry. Blasting at the quarry can create cracks and breaches in the Eramosa formation of the aquitard, which forms the protective layer over our local aquifer. Cracks in the aquitard create the possibility for surface water contamination of our pristine drinking water source. The initial breach of the aquitard was discovered almost a year ago. Despite numerous queries and complaints about the potential threat to our drinking water, and despite requests from the City of Guelph that the blasting be stopped, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of the Environment have allowed continued operations while information is gathered. Each and every subsequent blast has the potential of creating additional cracks in the aquitard, further exposing our aquifer to the possibility of surface water contamination.

There are many citizens of Guelph who are fed up with the inaction by the regulator. The quarry owner, River Valley Developments, is a division of Carson Reid. Carson Reid is the same company that was charged after unauthorized clear-cutting was discovered this past June at a property on Victoria Rd. Further blasting at the quarry poses a severe and immediate threat to our drinking water. The quarry has been in operation for over a hundred years and all the rock that can be safely removed, has already been removed.

“ We are asking our MPP Liz Sandals, and the two Provincial Ministries responsible to immediately take action and cancel this quarry operator’s permits”, said Wellington Water Watchers Executive Director, Arlene Slocombe.

“The DoLime quarry should be closed immediately based on risk assessment – there is no justification on continuing with mining there within the protective layer of the aquifer system”,  said Hugh Whiteley PhD

 

October 23, 2009

Ontario Urban Forest Council “Tree Preservation And The Planning Process – Moving Ahead”

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Ontario Urban Forest Council’s Annual Conference “Tree Preservation and the Planning Process – Moving Ahead”

Trees are increasingly regarded as beautiful and effective tonics to our polluted planet, with a long list of social, environmental and economic benefits.   Sadly, preserving trees or allocating adequate space for future planting is rarely considered in the development process.

The Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) will be holding their annual conference in Guelph this year.  The conference takes place on Thursday, November 12 at the University of Guelph Arboretum. The theme of this year’s conference is   “Tree Preservation and the Planning Process –Moving Ahead”.  Speakers will include city planners, environmental planners, politicians, development consultants and educators who will bring their professional experience and municipal perspectives to share ideas.  The City of Guelph and some of its real planning issues will be showcased to stimulate discussion of how best to protect our urban forests.

On Wednesday, November 11 from 7 to 9 p.m., the OUFC will be holding their AGM at the Shakespeare Arms near the Campus Estates Plaza.  Well respected urban forest professor, Dr Andy Kenney will give a short presentation entitled  “Preserving Trees and the Planning Process:  Covering Your Assets”.

View the conference flyer

Update October 31: There is a reduced ticket price of $75 for those who work (employed or volunteer) for urban forest not for profit organizations such as Guelph Urban Forest Friends.

Visit www.oufc.org for complete conference details.

GUFFheader

 

September 8, 2009

We Must Act Now To Save Our Trees

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We Must Act Now To Save Our Trees
Susan Ratcliffe
Guelph Mercury, June 19, 2009

HCBP Culvert August 2009 (Photo: Bob Gordon)

HCBP Culvert August 2009 (Photo: Bob Gordon)

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a noise?

If a developer cuts down acres of trees and no one does anything about it, should we make some noise?

Along Gordon Street beyond the sprawling subdivisions and ugly strip malls, some beautiful natural areas remain — treasured by the families who have owned and loved them for many years, areas of rolling hills, towering trees, large ponds and abundant wildlife.

Sometime during the last week, Carson Reid Homes sent a diesel-powered machine called a feller-forwarder into one of those pristine areas. Looking like a huge praying mantis, it rumbled through the stands of large old maples and ironwoods other hardwoods including cherry, elm, ash and century-old fruit trees, clear cutting approximately 30 hectares of woods on Paris Galt Moraine land in the Hanlon Creek watershed.

The trees, a combination of old-growth and secondary-growth forest — coniferous plantings by the Ministry of Natural Resources project as part of the Hall’s Pond wetland complex protection — were mowed down on development land between Clair and Maltby roads. The cutting was difficult to detect from most public vantage points as it was behind a wide, untouched buffer zone. An alert neighbour notified city bylaw officers about the work, who ordered the cutting stopped.

The affected area abuts a natural area and is essentially the only remaining east-west linkage between the Hanlon and Mill Creek subwatersheds — deemed key to protect in the 1993 Marshall Macklin Monaghan Hanlon Creek subwatershed study. It is also the only link between the Hanlon Creek subwatershed and a provincially significant area of natural and scientific interest (ANSI). The City of Guelph’s draft natural heritage strategy identified the area for protection, calling it “environmentally significant.”

But once it’s significantly cleared of its large trees, can anyone do anything about it?

The city is developing a natural heritage strategy to support its 2007 strategic plan goal for “a biodiverse city with the highest tree-canopy percentage among comparable municipalities.” This strategy would enhance the provincial policy that encourages “wise management of natural heritage resources.”

Guelph Urban Forest Friends have repeatedly called for immediate action on an interim protective tree bylaw, along with an independent urban-forestry department, a certified forester, and an urban-forest advisory committee. The group, along with city councillors Leanne Piper, Maggie Laidlaw and Mike Salisbury previously warned of the risk of pre-emptive work by developers opposed to the Heritage Strategy.

An investigation is warranted into whether Carson Reid has upheld Guelph’s tree bylaw. The bylaw states it is an offence to injure or destroy any live tree over 4.5 metres inside the city without written approval, and that every tree injured or destroyed on a property larger than an acre will be considered a separate offence. Each offence has a maximum fine of $2,000.

Also seemingly at issue is whether this development could be considered in concert with terms of the Migratory Birds Convention Act. That federal legislation prohibits the disturbance, destruction or taking of the nests or eggs of migratory birds by activities such as logging — and some migratory birds nest in June.

A question for investigators might be whether migratory bird habitat was impacted in this case.

Now, the trees have fallen. News of their felling should be trumpeted community-wide as a dirge to the loss of Guelph’s natural heritage to the interest of development.

It is time for citizens to take action.

I urge all who care about our city to take an interest in the followup of this affair. I hope city council refuses all future zoning change requests and building permits with the company linked to this cutting until the ravaged land is rehabilitated.

And I urge all of you to write to city council and to the Ontario and federal governments asking for stronger laws to protect our remaining natural treasures for future generations.

Susan Ratcliffe’s column appears monthly. You can contact her at susarat@gmail.com.

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map

 

September 8, 2009

Help The Environment – Plant A Tree

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Want to do something to help the environment? Why not plant a tree?

The project, aptly named the “Cool Communities Residential Shade Tree Planting Program”, is aimed at encouraging homeowners to plant trees for energy conservation.  Shade trees planted on the southern and western sides of a home can save 25–40%, and reduce peak energy demand in summer by up to 30%, according to a study by the University of California Berkeley.   By planting a tree, homeowners also improve their neighbourhoods by cleaning the air, decreasing pollution, attracting pollinators, and increasing biodiversity.

The project is being launched as a pilot by Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF), an award-winning, Toronto-based urban forest non-profit organization well known for its successful Backyard Tree Planting Program.  LEAF has been working in close cooperation with local municipalities and green organizations to get the project off the ground. 

Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF) is pleased to support this program which shares our emphasis on maintaining and increasing our tree canopy for a healthier, sustainable future. This also supports The City of Guelph’s Community Energy Plan. “Guelph will reduce the magnitude of the summer electrical peak by at least 40% by 2031 to avoid the need for investment in new electrical infrastructure to serve the growth of the city.” 

According to Michelle Bourdeau, LEAF’s Manager of Residential Planting Programs, Guelph was chosen specifically because of its positive track record in taking on new environmentally-conscious initiatives.  “Residents here tend to have a good understanding of environmental issues, and we want to assist them in greening their communities.  We’re offering financial incentives for residents who want to plant native trees and shrubs and increase Guelph’s tree canopy.”

The project is funded by the Ontario Power Authority’s Conservation Fund which funds conservation pilot projects that encourage homeowners to make cost-effective energy conservation decisions.   For more energy conservation initiatives, visit www.everykilowattcounts.ca.  For more information on the Cool Communities project, including a list of participating nurseries, visit www.yourleaf.org/coolcommunities.

The program runs from September 12-13 and September 19-20. To take advantage of the discount, and save up to $100, please visit one of the participating nurseries.

LEAF_Ad_Guelph_400x500_WEB

 

August 21, 2009

James Gordon – Its Been A Bad Summer For Trees

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James Gordon has put a new song on YouTube.

The song, “Mr. Developer Man”, is inspired by the issues affecting trees at Hanlon Creek Business Park, the Guelph Youth Music Centre and what James likes to call “The Maltby Road “Carson Reid” Tree Massacre” :)  

As James puts it, “It’s been a bad summer for trees, so I thought I’d write them a song!”

Check it out.

 

August 10, 2009

Low Impact Development Is Good For Our Community

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LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT  BENEFITS  OUR  COMMUNITY

Low Impact Development (LID) refers to highly effective plans that emphasize retaining the natural features of a building site. Negative impacts of development are reduced, such as unnecessary mass grading and soil compaction. It protects trees. It provides real benefits and preserves the value of investment. LID also reduces infrastructure and environmental costs.

LID  protects tree roots, thereby reducing water in basements and maintaining healthy water table around property. Tree roots sponge up rainwater which increases groundwater recharge. LID costs less than conventional storm-water management systems.

Trees reduce erosion of soil. They also enhance evaporation of rainwater back to the atmosphere after a storm. Therefore, there is reduced chance of flooding and pollution damage.

Protecting green spaces gives advantages!

  • reduced energy costs for air conditioning and heating
  • reduced greenhouse gases and heat island effect
  • improved air quality for the community
  • increased property value
  • improved pollinator and bird habitat
  • improved liveability and aesthetics of a community
  • reduced smog and particulate damage
  • improved wetlands, green corridors and wildlife habitat
  • big broad trees give shade for reduced UV exposure
            
    Guelph Urban Forest Friends      www.guffguelph.ca
 

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