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Local experts share wealth of tree knowledge at free Oak Bay event

“Healthy Trees, Healthy Communities” seminar at Windsor Pavilion focused on how to preserve District’s urban forest
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“Healthy Trees, Healthy Communities” seminar to be held at the Windsor Pavilion at 7 p.m. on Oct.24. (Photo courtesy Wylie Thomas)

The urban forest that Oak Bay enjoys today is a legacy of the stewardship demonstrated early in the District’s history, but as the climate changes and community trees age, residents are working to protect and enhance that legacy for the future.

Oak Bay Parks and Friends of Uplands Park are holding a “Healthy Trees, Healthy Communities” seminar at the Windsor Pavilion at 7 p.m. on Oct.24.

The free event involves discussion about the urban forest issues in Oak Bay and how protecting and enhancing the urban forest benefits residents.

RELATED: Reader photo: Urban forest walk a ‘treemendous’ time

The event is designed to engage residents who are keen to learn more about the urban forest and how they can be involved in helping it grow for future generations.

Part of Oak Bay’s urban forest vision, laid out in the Urban Forest Management Strategy, is to protect and enhance the tree canopy cover in the District to approach 40 per cent by 2045, by supporting a healthy, well-adapted and diverse tree population.

The goal is to plant 1,400 new trees on public land and for the District to work with residents and institutions to plant 5,000 new trees on private property.

Four local experts will be on hand to make interesting and engaging presentations about Oak Bay’s unique urban forest.

Chris Hyde-Lay, manager of Parks Services in Oak Bay will discuss the Urban Forest Strategy and the vision focused on protecting and enhancing Oak Bay’s natural character with a presentation focused on how Oak Bay’s plans, policies and programs can help preserve and renew the urban forest.

RELATED: Fines issued in illegal 2015 Oak Bay tree cutting

A talk about restoring Uplands Park will be given by Wylie Thomas. Thomas has been managing a project since 2014, on behalf of the District of Oak Bay, that is working to restore the park’s rare ecosystems and protecting its 26 endangered plant species. Uplands Park is an ecological treasure, unfortunately, it also has a very large collection of invasive species,which threaten the survival of this ecological treasure.

Ron Carter will give a talk on green infrastructure solutions. Trees are the ultimate in multi-purpose infrastructure: they shade us in summer, shelter us in winter, filter out air pollutants, absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and soak up heavy rainfalls while adding beauty to the municipality and habitats for other species.

A presentation about the relationship between trees and human health will be given by Paul Allison, taking people on a journey to discover their relationship with trees in the landscape, highlighting their power to heal. Using case studies of hospital gardens, Paul will illustrate how trees can be restorative and therapeutic.

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