On the last day of 2015, here are some reflections on how mature, healthy trees in Champlain Park have fared in the last 364 days. Let’s accentuate the positive by noting that: 1. For the first time ever in Champlain Park community, city officials (Forestry Services) posted a tree protection sign and mandated that tree protection occur for a large… Read more →
Carleton University students who have created a new video about tree protection in Kitchissippi are calling it If a tree falls. The video features Daniel Buckles and Erin Topping (and children), who are residents of Champlain Park. It also features Councillor Jeff Leiper. Four 4th year journalism students at Carleton University created the video–and received an A from their professor… Read more →
Another giant bur oak has died today, and a second is at grave risk. 231 Keyworth (video): Excavation at this site has damaged a healthy old growth bur oak 1.11 metres in diametre. This is a pre-confederation giant (ca. 1855) with genes going back to the time of the last ice age. This is an incredibly important genetic resource in a… Read more →
At 251 Carleton Avenue, an infill development has torn apart the roots of a bur oak. The Forestry Services staffer on site today had the following to say about this situation: The tree was noted during a Committee of Adjustment hearing and the developer agreed to “protect” the tree during excavation. Damage to the critical root zone is so significant… Read more →
A year ago, a neighbour opposed to tree protection on private property told me, sarcastically, “It’s not like bur oaks are an endangered species.” Yes, they are. Today’s events in Champlain Park point to how these gentle giants are being battered and damaged by property owners who seem to care not at all about them. At 231 Keyworth Avenue, half the… Read more →
Following is an open letter to the City of Ottawa regarding the launch of the Urban Forest Management Plan. Dear Martha, Thank you for organizing the launch of the Urban Tree Management Plan yesterday at Landsdowne. There are many positive features of the initiative, and I will do what I can to support the process. I feel compelled to flag,… Read more →
In recent years, National Tree Day (today!) has been a time to celebrate mature healthy trees in Champlain Park and to plant bur oak saplings with school children. This year, the urge to celebrate is less prominent. This year, the Champlain Oaks is proud to sign on to BIG TREES of Kitchissippi. Here’s the News_Release Sept 23 (PDF will load)… Read more →
Click here to see video: removal of black walnut September 17th was a black day for trees on private property. At 231 Daniel Avenue a majestic black walnut was destroyed against the wishes of the property owner by a reckless, first-time developer and a City of Ottawa afraid of its own shadow. Here is the sequence of events. A young man… Read more →
If anyone wants to sing along with a Leonard Cohen tune, page I will lead Ottawa in a chorus of Hallelujah! Yesterday, at 231 Daniel Ave., Forestry Services posted a sign that designates a tree on municipal property as a protected tree. This kind of sign has ONLY appeared as a poster printed by Heather Pearl of the Champlain Park… Read more →
In April 2011, despite protests, a magnificent bur oak met its death in Champlain Park so that a developer and the City of Ottawa could stay out of court. The City’s legal team caved in to a developer’s threat that he would take legal action to challenge implementation of the Urban Tree Conservation By-law. With a permit in hand, the… Read more →
The Champlain Oaks Project: we're a volunteer group of neighbours, honoured to share our community with these magnificent old-growth giants, and dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and restoring the historic Oak forest in Ottawa's West end.
