Stephen Thirlwall
On March 25, with snow still in drifts, I noticed a small magnolia tree covered in fairly large buds. Nature was clearly signaling things to come.
As we rapidly advance towards spring and summer, numerous community-based projects are ramping up. The Centretown Community Association (CCA) always needs thoughtful and practical volunteers to help protect Centretown’s greenspaces: in particular, the NeighbourWoods Tree Inventory and the Dundonald Garden Group.
NeighbourWoods
This project was started by Darlene Pearson, who was able to coordinate with professors W. Andrew Kenney and D. Puric-Mladenovic at University of Toronto. The professors had created and tested out a tree survey program in a few locations in Ontario. Darlene continues to plan and direct our Centretown survey with the aid of many volunteers.
NeighbourWoods is a very direct action project which aims to eventually count and assess all the trees of a certain size on all properties throughout Centretown. For each tree, 38 pieces of information plus notes are recorded. This information is compiled to provide a variety of maps and data on the status of our overall “urban forest” canopy. This will aid future city and neighbourhood level planning to preserve our trees, replenish those that are removed, and plant more where possible to ensure a widespread tree canopy.
The program started in June 2021 with training on identifying tree types and learning what data to record. During the summer and fall, surveys happened in the Golden Triangle and west Centretown south of Somerset Street West. Several teams, usually of three to five individuals, captured details for several hundred trees.
Each team set its own schedule, going out one or two times a week during the day or evening, covering a city block at a time. One member took notes, others took measurements and assessed tree types and conditions, switching around when necessary. And we socialized, talking about all sorts of subjects.
At season’s end, some volunteers searched for good sites to plant new trees. Others carried out background work looking at what program changes are needed for next year and preparing articles, posters, and materials.
In 2022, a few blocks north of Somerset Street West were also completed. We worked faster, friendships deepened, we quickly adapted to weather conditions, and improved on what was recorded. We also received some of the results from the first year and gave further feedback on the process.
The survey work sounds simple on the surface. However, the teams are constantly trying to find ways to overcome many challenges. How to accurately measure and assess trees that are bunched closely together or a single tree up against a fence leaning over into another property? How do you clearly identify a tree type when the nearest leaf is 20 feet above you? How do you measure and assess a tree that you cannot get close to? Some backyards are very confined. And so on.
Another problem is that not everyone can attend every time. My team ranged week to week from two to seven members. So volunteers are needed to start more teams and to strengthen existing ones.
For 2023, the plan is to train team members on how to directly record information on digital tablets. This will provide more accurate tree locations and save time by not having to later type in hand-recorded data.
Serving on a team helps increase awareness of the importance of trees and of maintaining a large stock of healthy trees. For youth, it’s an opportunity to do interesting outdoor work and gain required volunteer hours. Having mixed-aged teams permits a lot of intergenerational exchange. When my grandkids (aged 9 and 13) were visiting, each of them had a day out with the team. As CCA committee chair Brian Beaven commented, participants get to know every single square inch of the community, as well as meeting many residents.
Dundonald Garden Group
The Garden Group has had a few strong years of development under its belt. Within dedicated sections of Dundonald Park, beds have been cleared of garbage and unwanted plants, many new flowers and shrubs planted, the gardens watered regularly, and trees trimmed. There were a few special days: one for spreading manure and another for spreading compost. Teams of volunteers were organized to carry out tasks every week or two. Barbara Sibbald planned and directed these developments.
Dinah Robinson is taking the lead for 2023. She has already been involved in the garden work for years and brings special experience with pollinators. She will focus on advancing garden design, building up plant stocks and introducing more native plants to show their value and evidence of their positive impact.
All you can learn from volunteerism
A lot can be learned from nature when we pay attention to it. To volunteer in the community has at its heart serving others and the collective good and building community. In turn, we develop skills we hadn’t thought of before and we remember skills we already had.
Throughout Ottawa, tens of thousands of people give volunteer time annually to arts and social service agencies. Personally, I have gained wonderful skills through service that were readily transferable to my professional work and other aspects of life. Through helping teach children, I quickly learned about organizing information and how to teach anyone of any age. Serving on CCA committees gave a chance to voice ideas and engage in decision-making, but also opened opportunities to chair some meetings and take a lead on projects. You gain experience in collaborating with others while advancing your community.
To volunteer, email NeighbourWoods@centretowncitizens.ca (tree survey) or dinahrob@sympatico.ca (gardening). If you attend Earth Day in Dundonald Park on Saturday, April 22 (rain date Sunday), please drop by the NeighbourWoods and Garden Group displays.