By Mark Schadenberg
WOODSTOCK – If it takes 100 years to grow a full Maple tree, how many years does it take to nourish and promote the growth of a forest?
Many walking / cycling trails around Woodstock will look completely different in as quickly as 12 months as tree removal crews will be purging more than 80% of the mature trees along the trails behind Standard Tube and running along the Thames River in the west end of Woodstock – where Cedar Creek meets the Thames.
It’s a shame, but unfortunately it has to happen – for two reasons.
On a smaller note, but still major, is that a species called the Manitoba Maple, which as its name suggests is not indigenous to this habitat must be removed – if not it could suffocate the progress of trees we do want in this ‘neck of the woods’.
Emerald Ash Borer
On a larger scale, the more significant concern is the trees killed by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beetle. This invasive insect has received more press than the Beatles in recent years as it invaded southern Ontario after its initial discovery in Michigan. The bug is native to China, Japan, Taiwan and even Russia, but not North America.
The report to council says: “typically, within five years of an infestation arriving in an area, up to 98% of the Ash trees are observed to have been killed by this insect.”
At Woodstock city council on Thursday (Oct. 18), Brian Connors, who is the City’s director of parks and recreation, will file a report to note how many Ash trees need to be removed, especially from both the Youth Start trail on the north side of Dundas Street along Cedar Creek (behind Chuckwagon restaurant), and the Lions Club Millennium trail behind Standard Tube (Arcelor Mittal). The Connors copy (Council agendas are online at: www.city.woodstock.on.ca) already points out that 50 of the 93 Ash trees in the Youth Start trail have been removed.
Keep in mind, many residential streets also feature Ash trees, and they too will be cut down.
The parks and rec. report continues by noting that previous City Councils have “set aside $110,000 in a reserve fund to deal with an Invasive Pest Strategy, of which $40,000 was set aside to be used in 2012.”
That monetary figure must be used to chop down Ash trees on trails, streets and parks.
“In most cases the trails are in flood plains and the work is best completed during the fall and winter months,” added author Connors. “Accordingly, it is recommended that Council provide funds to proceed so that staff can begin arranging for this work immediately.”
There are many re-forestation funding resources available, but where are the dollars to plant the trees (planting crew) and what species are available in bulk? Do you want trees that are just two feet tall to be planted or can larger trees be rounded up (shouldn’t use term ‘round up’, should I) for this re-establishment project.
Recreation Advisory Committee
I write as someone who enjoys the local trails and is a Lions Club member, but I’m also chair of the city’s recreation advisory committee (WRAC), and as I often state our group deals (offers suggestions) with everything in leisure and recreation locally – not just rinks, pools, skateboard parks, and the sports wall of fame. The WRAC looks at playground equipment and parks, and participated in the recent trails master plan.
City Council on Thursday will be asked to vote on a suggested or recommended funding motion.
This Ash problem is a reality, and not good news.
Mark Schadenberg, sales rep
Royal LePage Triland
(519) 537-1553
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
By the way, our Lions Club is always looking for new members and you don’t have to volunteer to plant trees unless you want to. However, our Lions Club highway cleanup on Highway 2 (west of the city) is this Saturday at 9 a.m., so look out for a terrific crew from our local service club with garbage bags and orange jackets.
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