Langford Adopts Plans for Increased Tree Protection
Thanks to Mary Wagner and citizen support, Langford Council supported Wagner’s five part motion based on the Urban Forest Management Plan to help preserve and protect more of Langford’s urban canopy. Staff had a recommendation for part 1 and 2, and points... Read more
An Analysis of Dialog’s Technical Memorandum on the Centennial Square Sequoia Tree
Arborist and urban forest educator Ryan Senechal offers an analysis of the Technical Memorandum recently shared by the City of Victoria regarding its stated need to cut down Centennial Square’s giant sequoia tree. He says the tree is healthy, and could be pruned... Read more
Urban Forestry Strategy
Term 2 /Take 2 Attention people of Saanich: this is a biodiversity alert. Biodiversity Biodiversity Biodiversity Taxes Taxes Taxes My job as an Independent 100% NOT developer-funded councillor is getting harder every day. A voice for the environment, wildlife,... Read more
Save the Mighty Sequoia Tree at Centennial Square, Victoria BC, from Wrongful Demolition
An inconvenient tree? Sign the petition here. On Jul 11, 2024 Victoria’s mayor and a majority of council members approved the updated concept design for Centennial Square and directed staff to proceed with implementation as outlined in the Centennial Square... Read more
Ryan Senechal: Removing Sequoia Would Violate City of Victoria Policies
The redesign of Victoria’s Centennial Square is moving closer toward breaking ground, and there remains a chance for sober second thought on the fate of a highly appreciated giant sequoia. We’ve been informed that the removal is to improve sightlines for public safety…
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Let The Sequoia Live!
In July, Victoria’s mayor and council voted to cut down the giant sequoia that has been a focal point of Centennial Square for past decades, as part of a planned redesign of the space. Two other large trees will also be removed. These include a healthy sweetgum, and the beautiful Shirofugen Japanese flowering cherry…
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Petition that the Province of B.C. Protect Native Tree Species within Building Envelopes
With the recent housing Bills, protecting the natural environment within so-called building envelopes couldn’t be more crucial.
Read moreSeedlings Forest Education
It all started with a blank slate. Or, in this case, an empty patch of soil beside a park. As a research lead with Seedlings Forest Education, an organization in Victoria, BC that facilitates nature-based learning for children, it was my job to help the leadership... Read more
100’s of Trees Slated for Removal at Prospect Lake
BC Hydro is planning to remove several hundred trees near Prospect Lake in Saanich in order to upgrade their power transmission lines. Among a number of questions that come to mind, what is Hydro’s relation to the development/real estate lobby?
Read moreGrowing Trees From Seed
Learn how to propagate and plant native Pacific northwest trees from seed — save money and get stronger, healthier, more resilient trees! A great way to create stock for eco-restoration or wetland projects. Or offer to donate the seedlings to your local... Read more
Learn to Grow Trees From Seed for Cheap!
Join professional arborist and commercial and non-profit tree grower, Ryan Senechal, and the Community Trees Matter Network for this fun, practical workshop! Learn where and when to gather seed or cuttings (now is a good time), propagation basics, container culture,... Read more
Protecting Nature in Cities: A Matter of Survival – Webinar Replay
Protecting Nature in Cities with Indigenous Wisdom, Creativity and Science Presented by the Community Trees Matter Network, CreativelyUnited.org, and Programs in Earth Literacies Links & Resources Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action:... Read more
Important Tree Resources
Government + Mayor & Councillor Contacts Key Federal, Provincial & Municipal Government Contacts Trees Matter Toolkit Trees Matter Toolkit More tree items from Solutions Nature & Conservation Trees Are Vital Cartoon... Read more
Climate Leadership Plans Must Include Protecting and Enhancing Our Urban Forests
Photo credit: Nikki/Flickr The Victoria-based Community Trees Matter Network has created this handy letter to cut and paste, and send to Victoria City Council, or the officials of your choice, in an effort to protect and enhance urban trees and forests. The Letter:... Read more
Please encourage Saanich to better fund its urban forests!
The Community Trees Matter Network is asking anyone who lives, works, studies, recreates, or would like to help the urban forest in Saanich, BC, to please consider sending this letter to council@saanich.ca, or write your own. This letter could be used as... Read more
Great Tree Stories
Here are a few great tree stories we hope you enjoy. We welcome submissions from the public. Please share your tree stories here. Community Managed Forests: https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/10/23592712/conservation-nasa-satellite-images-nepal-forests The Spirituality... Read more
What has the Community Trees Matter Network been up to?
Since CTMN began, in 2018, our various passionate members have been involved in a variety of projects: Educational Outreach to the Public via technology: We created a website filled with information about trees and ways citizens can protect them, at... Read more
Will We Lose Downtown’s Last Garry Oaks?
This should not be a battle between supportive housing and the urban forest canopy. Everyone should have access to the mental and physical health benefits provided by mature trees. Every neighbourhood should gain from the carbon sequestration and enhanced biodiversity... Read more
Tree removal should be last alternative
Too often, municipalities seem to think mature trees are just in the way. That needs to change, because those trees benefit public health and even save lives. Like every municipality, Saanich needs bike lanes, safe sidewalks, and up-to-date utility pipes. But were any... Read more
HALT Saanich Council Action Plan: Help Save Remaining Shelbourne Trees!
We are concerned citizens who urge Saanich Council to pause implementation of Phase Two of its Shelbourne Valley Action Plan until after October 15, 2022 election. We wish the new Council to review the plan before proceeding. Click here to sign the petition The... Read more
Questions For & Responses from Candidates
The science is conclusive, trees matter! Not only can trees help regulate weather, filter smoke and pollutants, absorb stormwater runoff and prevent floods, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide beauty, shade, and shelter for thousands of needed insects,... Read more
Will the Missing Middle Squeeze Victoria’s Trees?
This article, written by Community Trees Matter Network co-founder Grace Golightly, was recently published in Focus and speaks to what’s at stake with Victoria’s urban trees and livability.... Read more
Painfully But Patiently Bearing Witness: The Rewards
I have felt sometimes lately like I am descending into some kind of limbo. So much seems to be going sideways in the world at the same time, yet there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do to slow or halt the decline. For the last three years, all I seem to have been... Read more
Urgent news for Victoria tree lovers
Dear friends of the urban forest, This Thursday, August 4th, Victoria city council is holding a public hearing about the proposed “Missing Middle” zoning change. This unprecedented change could mean a massive loss of city trees — yet with no... Read more
Missing Middle housing plan threatens Victoria’s trees
Two-thirds of the trees in Victoria are on private land, within the setbacks of buildings that do not maximize the allowable footprint. Upzone most of those properties and you provide the financial incentive to remove thousands of Victoria’s mature trees. The tree protection bylaw does not protect trees that fall within allowable building footprints.
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Upzoning Proposal by City Threatens Democracy – Petition
Victoria Mayor, Lisa Helps, wants to force a vote (May 12th.) on an initiative that will seriously impact housing for homeowners and renters in Victoria long into the future. Crucially, it will involve upzoning residential areas of Victoria to allow development of up... Read moreEarth Day Release – The Last Stand Premiere
The story of Fairy Creek comes to the world stage! In the summer of 2021, Canadian filmmaker Peter von Puttkamer and his crew made the trek to Fairy Creek to document the struggle and speak first-hand with the forest defenders passionate about saving the old-growth... Read more
Help Create Healing Forests
Nature heals — in more ways than one. Science shows that spending time in nature reduces stress and anxiety and boosts energy, creativity, co-ordination, problem solving and curiosity. For Earth Day, you can make MORE green spaces available to MORE people. Donate to... Read moreWorth More Standing Anthology Launch Event
Join Christine Lowther, Tofino’s Poet Laureate for the launch of Worth More Standing: Poets and Activists Pay Homage to Trees Anthology. About this event The launch of Worth More Standing: Poets and Activists Pay Homage to Trees will open at 12:30 p.m. and the... Read more
Take a Stand for James Bay’s Cherry Trees
I’m hoping you can help us with this campaign. If you have admired the gorgeous cherry trees on Menzies St. near Niagara, I am sorry to tell you that a developer is going to cut them all down – in order to move the sidewalk over a few feet. And the city... Read more
Kings Park Supporters: Action Required & Important Fundraising Update
URGENT CALL TO ACTION Please call or email Saanich Council before it’s too late –> Ask that 1.75M CRD sourced funds be applied to finally Save Kings Community Nature Space. In this era of climate crisis we must save our precious green spaces, they are... Read moreCoastal Forestry Video
This video, written and narrated by Ken Wu, and edited by Darryl Augustine, looks at incredible forest ecosytems, including the charismatic and endangered Garry Oak and Arbutus forest ecosystems found on eastern Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast... Read moreCity of Victoria Tree Opportunities
Join the Trees in Cities Challenge The City of Victoria is working with the community to plant 5,000 trees on public and private land in the United Nations Trees in Cities Challenge. In 2020, the City increased tree planting by 40 per cent and planted 500 new trees in... Read more
Being a Voice for the Forest: A Guide for Taking Action
As human beings we are an inseparable part of the natural world. Our existence depends on a good relationship with our non-human relatives. Unfortunately, the current model of forestry practiced in this province breaks the relationships between ourselves and nature.... Read more
Saanich Naturescape Program
Support Nature in Your Neighbourhood Naturescape is a program and concept to protect, maintain and enhance wildlife habitat and native biodiversity. It encourages creating diversity, layers and edges and using native plants on your property and in the re-design of... Read more
Trees Pay Decades of Dividends
There is a vestigial image of Canada – a raw and vast land of forests, lakes and mountains. Forests, most of all. At Confederation, 154 years ago, this was true for most people. Fewer than one in five lived in a city. At the start of the Second World War, close to half the population still lived in rural areas. But this changed rapidly thereafter.
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Getting Back to the Garden at Fairy Creek
I came upon a child of God, he was walking along the road, And I asked him, “Where are you going?”, and this he told me, I’m going on down to Fairy Creek, I’m gonna try and save some trees, I’m gonna camp out on the land, I’m gonna try and get my soul free
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Children of the Trees
This past summer I watched two dozen cedars slowly die outside my window in False Creek. In a matter of months, they turned from green to rust, stood like candles ready to be lit on a day of mourning. I watched men climb them with chainsaws, slice them, and feed them to the wood chipper. I sat behind my glass door in vigil.
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Tuesdays for Trees Campaign
Tuesdays for Trees is a campaign devised by the Climate Action Research Team of Greater Victoria Acting Together. The idea is to have something happen every Tuesday to raise public awareness and pressure decision makers regarding the importance of trees and forests in... Read more
Working Together Enhances Community Well-Being
We couldn’t help but share this good news story that shows what is possible when people come together to take a stand for common good. Fortunately, the developer of this project had the right attitude, was open-minded and understood how their actions would... Read more
Trees Matter – Shareable Graphics
Trees are among the hardest working members of our world community. Every day, 24 hours a day, they provide a huge host of incredible services that they receive little thanks or recognition for. I created these graphics to visually show some of the many attributes of... Read moreRegister for Trees in the City – A Conversation with David Haskell
David Haskell is a British-born American biologist, acclaimed author, and a university professor of biology in Tennessee. In addition to scientific papers, he has written essays, poems, op-eds, and books; The Forest Unseen and The Songs of Trees. In The Forest Unseen,... Read more
Protect Fort Street Trees
This flyer on a telephone pole in the neighbourhood surrounding 1475 Fort Street, with an additional twenty copies along Pemberton, Fort and St. Charles streets. There is a lot of pedestrian traffic in that area, especially Fort Street. So, hopefully, this will not... Read more
Will the candidate you vote for in next month’s election work to protect Victoria’s trees?
Will the candidate you vote for in next month’s election work to protect Victoria’s trees? Elections provide an opportunity for us to compel our future politicians to focus upon issues of special concern, and to record their stances so that we can hold them to account... Read more
Tree Seedlings Available Nov 2-6
The District of Central Saanich, thanks to the generous donation of Mosaic Forest Management, will be giving out 100 Douglas Fir seedlings the week of November 2 to 6, 2020. The seedlings will be available outside Municipal Hall, at 1903 Mt Newton Cross Road, from 9... Read moreAn Appreciation for Trees
The Vancouver Island branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society hosts this Trees for Life video discussion to highlight the role trees play in our lives, communities, and the longevity of our planet. Join Dr. John Innes (Dean, Faculty of Forestry, UBC), Sarah Abbott... Read more
An Appreciation of Trees: Discussion Panel
‘An Appreciation of Trees’ provides nature lovers and Royal Commonwealth Society members from around the world a unique opportunity to come together and rediscover our love for trees. Register here for this November 1st event from 2 – 4 pm PT. Join... Read moreAwaken Forest Ballet
If you love our forests and trees, please share this special short film produced by Creatively United in collaboration with Ballet Victoria. Awaken, an exquisitely intimate performance inspired by the soft whispers of the forest, features original music composed, sung and orchestrated by Canada’s multi award-winning legend, Ann Mortifee, in collaboration with former Chilliwack band member, Ed Henderson (guitar), and Finn Manniche (cello).
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