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Learn about growing old-growth forests at our next general meeting.Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to CVN’s May general meeting. where you can hear the following keynote presentation by our guest speaker:
"Growing Old Growth: The relationships that define the future of our forests" with Tal Engel of WolfTree Integrative Forest Rehabilitation.
Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox
(Members, please also take note of the special resolution to be voted upon, detailed on our website)
Tal’s talk presents an integrative and regenerative forestry approach to foster fire-resilience, moisture retention, and overall ecological integrity so that degraded forest ecosystems may endure the ever-increasing anthropogenic pressures to one day become old growth forests. He will present evidence that for old growth forests to develop, far more than just time is required.
Tal holds workshops for community groups in which he first explores how industrial forestry has radically altered the structure, composition, function, and relationships essential for the growth of a resilient and healthy forest. The second part of the workshops cover methods he has developed to help dense young forests recover from a century of industrial forestry.
This talk is based on the first part of Tal’s workshops. He will focus on his theories relating to succession, pathology, and cultural relationships in forests and will include an overview of forest ecosystems in crisis from other parts of the world.
Tal has kindly offered to conduct a second part of his workshop on June 1st in Merville. For CVN members only. Sign up at the General meeting to tour the farm where he puts his methods into practice.
Tal Engel is a forest restoration practitioner and regenerative farmer who lives in the Merville area. On his family’s farm, Honey Grove, he researches and develops forest restoration methods and models that his organization, WolfTree Integrative Forest Rehabilitation, applies throughout eastern Vancouver Island.
see more at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/
www.wolftreeforestry.com/
We are pleased to offer a series of guided walks on Saturday May 17th, in Vanier Nature Park.Choose between 3 walk times that each have a different walk leader; each very knowledgeable about both oak trees, nature and the Vanier Nature Park restoration project.
The 10:00 am walk will be lead by Nick Page. Nick is a professional biologist who works on the assessment, restoration and management of species and ecosystems in coastal BC. He has a M.Sc. in plant ecology from UBC and works with Current Environmental in the Comox Valley. Nick grew up on Headquarters Road not far from the most northern Garry oak trees in Canada.
The 11:30 walk will be lead by Fred Newhouse. He is a Registered Professional Forester and has stewarded a woodlot for 27 years and worked in forest consulting for 35 years. As a Comox Valley Nature member he has volunteered for 15 years helping on projects including the Vanier Nature Park Garry Oak Restoration Project and Trees of the Year. He has conducted walks at Paradise Meadows for Strathcona Wilderness Society.
The 1:00 pm walk will be lead by Verna Mumby who has 30 years of work in arboriculture as a ISA Certified Arborist and Consulting Arborist. She says she is still learning every day from the trees. When not hugging trees she is knee deep in microscopy looking into microbes in the soil – or walking her dog in the nature of the wonderful Comox Valley.
The Vanier Nature Park project is being co-managed by Comox Valley Nature and the City of Courtenay with funding from both the City of Courtenay and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. Each walk leader will share their unique perspective on this forest and this very positive project.
Registration is required.
Please be at the meeting spot at least 10 minutes before the walk starts to sign in. We will have a table with further information on this exciting project.
The walk is partially on level ground with some gentle to moderate uphill walking on a forest trail that has some uneven footing. No dogs please.
For more information or to sign up, visit comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events/
Everything is connected, healing the land heals people:
Three knowledgeable Comox Valley Naturalists will introduce participants to the plants at the Airpark. Learn how this area was transformed from a sewage lagoon covered in slabs of concrete to a diversified city park. We will find many native plant species here that are reclaiming and recreating this natural environment.Frank Hovenden, the leading force behind these changes will highlight many plant species. Participants will have the opportunity to sharpen their native plant identification skills by the end of this botany focused walk. This is a 1 km walk on flat ground. Meet at the playground on Mansfield Drive.
Registration is required and limited space available so sign up early at This is a free event but donations are welcome. No dogs please.
Many people fear trees, especially big trees. Join us in this guided walk and overcome those fears. You will learn about tree bio-mechanics; how trees dance and move, and the importance of tree roots. Understand how trees help each other during storms and how they communicate. We will look at trees in Filberg Park in Comox on May 3 from 11 a.m. to 12:00. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear.Registration required at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events/ (no dogs please)
Admission is free, but donations are welcome
Category Archives: Weekend Walks
March 1, 2020 Sunday Bird Walk – Cumberland Marsh
New birders are welcome to join experienced birders for this early Spring bird watching outing to Cumberland Marsh. This walk will be about 1.5 km in length on level pathways. We will be bird watching for about 2 hours. Meet … Continue reading
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Weekend Walk Schedule for Spring 2020
The advance schedule of weekend walks for members for the period from February 16 to May 16 is now available. Download it here. Of these trips, the ones on the following dates will be open to the public: March 22 … Continue reading
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Upcoming Walks: October 2018 – February 2019
MASTER SCHEDULE: Variances only announced by Loys Maingon Questions: CVN Walks October 2018 -February 2019 .PDF CVN WALKS: October 2018 to February 2019 All walks minimum 2 hrs PARTICIPANTS SHOULD MEET EITHER AT CARPOOLING LOCATION OR AT TRAILHEADS Carpooling … Continue reading
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Upcoming Walk: Sunday, 29th July 2018, Hike to Aston Pond
SUN. July 29, 8:30am: Hike to Aston Pond (near Panther Lake) A long day hike (14 km round trip) with biologist Loys Maingon on subalpine pond ecology. Pack a lunch. Meet at Parking area on Strathcona Parkway just off Highway … Continue reading
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Upcoming Walk: Saturday, 28th July 2018, Paradise Meadows – Trees & Lichens
SAT. July 28, 1:00pm : Nature Walk –Paradise Meadows – trees & Lichens A 2-2 ½ hour walk around the Meadows led by forester Margaret Symon. Meet at the Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre, Paradise Meadows at 1:00 pm. Sturdy footwear … Continue reading
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Upcoming Walk: Sunday, 22nd July 2018, Hike up Mt Becher
SUN. July 22, 9:00am: Hike up Mt Becher – Evolution of land plants. Paleontologist Randal Mindell will use examples from the hike up Mt Becher (11km round trip) to show how land plants evolved. Meet at the trailhead at the … Continue reading
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Upcoming Walk: Saturday, 21st July 2018, Paradise Meadows flora & fauna
SAT. July 21, time 9:30am : Nature Walk –Paradise Meadows flora & fauna Naturalist Joel Kositsky will lead a 2-2 ½ hour walk around the Meadows . Meet at the Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre, Paradise Meadows, at 9:30 am. Sturdy … Continue reading
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Upcoming Walk: Sunday, 15th July 2018, Geology of Karst Creek Nature Trail
SUN. July 15, 10:30 am: Nature Walk – Geology of Karst Creek Nature Trail, Buttle Lake Area Paleontologist Randal Mindell will lead an easy walk around the 2km Karst Creek trail at Buttle Lake. Meet at the trailhead, on Westmin … Continue reading
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Upcoming Walk: Saturday, 14th July 2018, McKenzie Meadows Hike
SAT. July 14, 8:30 am: McKenzie Meadows Hike– Subalpine ecosystems An easy, 3 km one-way hike from trailhead into McKenzie & Douglas Lakes & the Meadows, with biologist Loys Maingon. Meet at Parking area on Strathcona Parkway just off Highway … Continue reading
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Upcoming Walk: Sunday, 8th July 2018, Circlet Lake Hike
SUN. July 8, 8:30 am: Circlet Lake Hike – Avalanche Lily search. Biologist Loys Maingon will lead this strenuous full-day hike up to the vicinity of Circlet Lake – 20 km round trip. Pack a lunch. Expect wet snow beyond … Continue reading
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