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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
Mushroom Walk, Nov. 3
After an extremely popular and successful edible mushroom walk at Williams Beach Forest which drew close to 80 people, Comox Valley Nature is offering another free public walk at Nymph Falls. This is traditionally one of our annual wild mushroom … Continue reading
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Trumpeter Swan Counts 2012/2013
Apr. 2, 2013: TRUS adults 7 Juv. 23 Total 30 Weekly counts are now ended until October 2013. Mar. 26, 2013: TRUS adults 481 Juv. 124 Total 605 Mar. 19, 2013: TRUS adults 782 Juv. 237 … Continue reading
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BC Nature enews October 2012
Upcoming Events AGM 2013 – Along the Fraser – Adapting to Change Abbotsford-Mission Nature Club – May 2-5, 2013 – Details in Winter Magazine and our website April 27 – May 1, 2013 – Tofino Camp – Registration details in … Continue reading
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Oct. 21, 2012: Amphibians & Road Crossings
Elke Wind, a contract biologist, is the speaker at the monthly Comox Valley Nature meeting Sunday, October 21. Ms. Winds talk “ Why Did the Toad Cross the Road – Amphibians and Road Crossing Issues” will be at 7 pm … Continue reading
Posted in Amphibians and reptiles, Guest Speakers
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Edible Mushroom Walk, Oct. 20
Although the unusual drought has made this a dismal year for the wild mushroom industry on Vancouver Island, the return of the cool fall rain should herald the blossom of some of the year’s late mushrooms. Mushroom identification and picking … Continue reading
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BC Nature enews September 2012
Upcoming Events AGM 2013 – Along the Fraser – Adapting to Change Abbotsford-Mission Nature Club – May 2-5, 2013 – Details Below April 27 – May 1, 2013 – Tofino Camp – Details in Fall Magazine Skagit Valley Bird Blitz … Continue reading
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Morrison Creek Walk, Sept. 29
Furthering the public’s interest in this summer’s watershed walks, Comox Valley Nature is offering a free public guided walk at Morrison Creek. As home to a rare species of lamprey (Lampetra richardsoni var. marifuga) Morrison Creek is also home to … Continue reading
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Bird Outing Report: Englishman River, Sept. 19, 2012
Englishman River Estuary Trip Report – Art Martell On Wednesday, 19 September, 7 birders visited the Englishman River Estuary. We started on the north side of the Englishman River at the end of Shelly Street in the morning, birded along … Continue reading
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Bird Outing Report: Hornby Island, Sept. 13, 2012
On Thursday, 13 September, 7 birders visited Hornby Island. We went to Collishaw Point in the morning, and visited Dunlop Point in the afternoon. The weather was warm and sunny. The highlights were Heermann’s Gull, Surfbird (one of which came … Continue reading
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Sept. 16, 2012: Restoring Western Bluebirds to Garry Oak Ecosystems
As it approaches its own 50th anniversary, Comox Valley Nature will launch a special monthly lecture series to commemorate and honour Rachel Carson’s launch of Silent Spring. Fifty years ago on September 15, 1962, Rachel Carson’s tale of environmental greed … Continue reading
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