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The City of Courtenay is developing a long-term vision for Bill Moore Park and Dogwood Park to guide future improvements. To help guide these decisions, three initial concepts have been developed, and there is an opportunity for you to offer your input.The latest survey on the City website engagecomoxvalley.ca/bill-moore-and-dogwood-park asks for feedback on three concept plans and specifically which concept you prefer. The three concepts present a range of recreation possibilities and there is room on the survey for your comments.Dogwood Park is a 2.32‑hectare nature park featuring mature forested areas, natural habitat and a small wetland. Only Concept A will maintain the intact forest areas in Dogwood Park. Concepts B and C propose increased recreation in the park including an off leash dog park, disc golf course, pump track (a purpose built track for children’s cycling) and nature play areas. While the planners may say that no trees or few trees will be taken down to accommodate this, the under-story will not survive this level of trampling and fragmentation. The trees as well as all the wildlife who now call that area home will disappear over time. For those of us who value this forest, Concept A is the only option that makes sense.Dogwood Park is one of the few islands of green for many, many blocks. It provides habitat for wildlife, shade, retains water and acts as a carbon sink. On the architect's base plan of current conditions it is now characterized as an "underutilized space". The City has heard from sports enthusiasts but not nature lovers. Let them know why you value an intact forest and your connection to it. The survey is open until Sept 15.
The Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation (CCIPR) wants the federal government to establish a regulatory body for the horticultural industry and create a national database identifying invasive plants and their risks in different regions. "Even if we don't prohibit them, we need to let the public know when there is potential harm," said CCIPR co-founder Cathy Kavassalis. "We do this on other products, and we should do it on plants too. It's just common sense."In July, Nanaimo council passed a motion to pursue a bylaw amendment restricting the sale of plants on a list maintained by the Invasive Species Council of B.C. A week later, Surrey moved to ban sales by businesses including nurseries, large retail chains and florists. Kavassalis said a problem that could be addressed at higher levels of government is being pushed down to municipalities."These are all patchwork solutions that, in some ways, just waste a lot of resources," she said. The CCIPR says a national database could give provinces, territories, retailers and gardeners a shared source of information about which plants pose risks in different regions. Kavassalis also wants invasive plants removed from shelves or clearly labelled.For more on this story visit www.cbc.ca/news/science/invasive-plants-sale-federal-regulation-9.7312362 or see our link in bio
The Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation (CCIPR) wants the federal government to establish a regulatory body for the horticultural industry and create a national database identifying invasive plants and their risks in different regions. "Even if we don't prohibit them, we need to let the public know when there is potential harm," said CCIPR co-founder Cathy Kavassalis. "We do this on other products, and we should do it on plants too. It's just common sense."In July, Nanaimo council passed a motion to pursue a bylaw amendment restricting the sale of plants on a list maintained by the Invasive Species Council of B.C. A week later, Surrey moved to ban sales by businesses including nurseries, large retail chains and florists. Kavassalis said a problem that could be addressed at higher levels of government is being pushed down to municipalities. "These are all patchwork solutions that, in some ways, just waste a lot of resources," she said. The CCIPR says a national database could give provinces, territories, retailers and gardeners a shared source of information about which plants pose risks in different regions. Kavassalis also wants invasive plants removed from shelves or clearly labelled.For more on this story visit www.cbc.ca/news/science/invasive-plants-sale-federal-regulation-9.7312362
The following letter is from Save Our Forests Team - Comox Valley, on the subject of Bear James Park
Author Archives: Krista
Nature Hike Report: Puntledge River from Morrison to Browns, Sept. 23, 2013
Just two CVN members had an excellent adventure exploring up the Puntledge River , from the Morrison Creek confluence to the Browns River confluence, on Sept. 23. We started where Morrison Creek enters the Puntledge River – at Puntledge Park … Continue reading
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Nature Hike Report: Courtenay River, Sept. 16, 2013
Four CVN members explored the Courtenay River on Sept. 16, up to the confluence of the Puntledge & Tsolum Rivers in downtown Courtenay. Using the information on our online Nature Viewing Guide as reference, we started at Simms Park, observing … Continue reading
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Field Trip Series: Up the Puntledge
CVN members are invited to join a series of Nature Hikes up the Puntledge River, following the river upstream along with the returning salmon. Each location is one of the sites described in our online CV Nature Viewing Guide. The … Continue reading
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Bird Outing Report: Neck Point Park, Sept. 12, 2013
Seven birders made the trip down to Neck Point Regional Park in Nanaimo on Sept. 12. The weather was beautiful, but not too hot since we were next to the water. One of the highlights at Neck Pt. was seeing … Continue reading
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Bird Outing Report: Oyster Bay, Sept. 1, 2013
12 birders met at Oyster Bay for another search for migrating shorebirds. We had front row seat looks at Baird’s Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers. Thanks to Art Martell for supplying the following species list: Oyster Bay, Comox-Strathcona, CA-BC Sep 1, … Continue reading
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Bird Outing Report: Oyster Bay, Aug. 22, 2013
Eight birders met at Oyster Bay for another search for migrating shorebirds. This field trip also acted as an outing for the Thursday Birding group. We saw good numbers of the usual sandpipers and plovers. However, the highlight was 2 … Continue reading
Bird Outing Report: Oyster Bay, Aug. 10, 2013
Nine birders went to Oyster Bay to look for migrating shorebirds. We had an enjoyable morning, even though there weren’t many shorebirds, other than plovers, around today. We had good looks at couple of the plovers that were still in … Continue reading
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Bird Outing Report: Bear Creek Park, July 10, 2013
Eight birders went to Bear Creek Nature Park (along the Oyster River) . Although birdsong is gradually declining as summer wears on, there was still quite a bit of singing in the woods today, and we managed to see and/or … Continue reading
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BC Nature enews June 2013
Upcoming Events FGM Cranbrook – Sept 19-22, 2013. Registration and Outings and Presentation information is now available at the BC Nature Website BC Rivers Day – Sept 29, 2013 Look for events in your community Club Grant Applications – … Continue reading
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Bird Outing Report: Bear Creek Park, May 18, 2013
Seven birders met at Bear Creek Nature Park for a morning of mostly birding-by-ear. There were lots of flycatchers and warblers, as well as a few tangers and grosbeaks. There were a total of 27 species, but most of the … Continue reading
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