Blogs

On Tuesday June 3, 2014, I had the great pleasure of joining the Birds, Bees and Trees Tour which did not disappoint!

A living fossil, invasive Norway maples, majestic but threatened ash trees, horse-chestnuts and a large copper beech all combine to create an informative, perfectly shaded walk beneath a mature urban canopy. Old Cabbagetown is home to some great examples of urban ecology at work, and LEAF's tree tour was a perfect way to experience its benefits and learn about some of the hidden interactions that take place in our urban forests.

Robert Home Smith, the original developer of the Kingsway, would have smiled. Here was a large crowd walking, looking up, talking about and revering the oak trees that he had saved and protected, despite development, throughout the first part of the twentieth century. It is because of his foresight and values that on Sunday, May 4th, 2014, we were walking under one of the most magnificent canopies anywhere in the country - urban or otherwise!

Over the past decade, we’ve seen a huge loss of mature trees in my neighbourhood - but I’ve been pleased to see that most of my neighbours are just as concerned as I am.