A Quarterly City of Charlottetown Newsletter Winter 2017/18 FromFrom thethe ParkPark BenchBench Patricia Bourque Photography in the City! The “Where the Wild Things Are in the City” event, held on October the 14th, 2017 was a great success! Big thanks to all the peo- ple that came out and all the volunteers and staff who participated, even though it wasn’t the best weather! It was truly and in- terdepartmental community project with Parks and Recreation, Sustainability, the Mayor’s Office and Public Works all pitching in. We had between 700 and 800 people out to enjoy the day, from babies to seniors. It was a great way to celebrate the “the wild things” (plants and animals) that live in our City! Some of the highlights were: Families planting 75 native trees and shrubs to enhance the riparian zone. Kids love digging in the dirt and learning how to plant a tree. Decorating and learning about how an insect hotel can attract beneficial insects to your backyard. Although I hear at least one insect hotel was going home to become a doll house! Seeing Hulk the Harris Hawk and Sam the Saker Falcon being fed Quail, which is a large part of their diet. Pounding berries to a pulp!... to make a colorful nature headband. It is great that so many organizations came out and supported the City with their participation: Island Falconry, Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project, Ellen’s Creek Watershed Group, PEI Wild Child Program, PEI Wildfowl’s Carving Association, East Coast Art Party, Provincial Forests, Fish and Wildlife Department, Parkdale Sherwood Lions Club, The Music Man and David Woodside. This event was made possible with the support of CN EcoConnexions – From the Ground up Program, Tree Canada and Canada 150. Miltonvale Wellfield Reforestation Project Fieldtrip In October, the City hosted a fieldtrip to its Miltonvale wellfield site for almost 80 students (representing three Grade 8 classes) from Queen Charlotte Intermediate School. This fieldtrip ties into the City’s goal to protect the 206 acre wellfield property through a reforestation project. Four activity stations were set up for the event – a Miltonvale Water Supply Facility tour, watershed demonstration that looked at sources of water pollution and ways to prevent it, nature walk and tree planting activity. Students ro- tated through the stations, participating in the activities and listening to an educational session about each topic. Tree planting was a favorite of many! This fieldtrip gave us an opportunity to show our youth the importance of groundwater and watershed protection; try their hand at tree identification; learn about the role trees play in our environment; how to plant trees properly and what they can do to help protect our resources. The City began its Miltonvale Wellfield Reforestation Project in 2012 and has planted 13,649 native trees and shrubs. Funding for this project was provided by the PEI Wildlife Conservation Fund and the provincial Greening Spaces Program. For more information contact: Betty Pryor, Projects Officer for the City of Charlottetown, (902) 629-4011 or [email protected] Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a buprestid or jewel beetle which feeds on ash trees. It was first confirmed in Canada when it was detected in Windsor, Ontario in 2002. Since then it has spread to more locations in Ontario and was detected in Quebec in 2008. In December of 2017 it was detected in Winnipeg, Manitoba. EAB is a forest insect pest that is native to China and Eastern Asia. It is a very destructive insect, killing true ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). “It has already killed millions of ash trees in Ontario, Quebec and the United States”… https://www.canada.ca/en/food- inspection -agency/news/2017/12/emerald_ash_borerconfirmedinwinnipeg.html How to identify EAB: Adult beetle is a small metallic green, flying insect about 8.5—14.0 mm long. Adults beetles are difficult to find. Eggs are laid on the trunk or branches of the tree. They hatch and the larvae bore through the bark and feed on the wood beneath the bark. David Cappaert, Michigan State University The larva is creamy white with a, somewhat, flattened body. It creates S-shaped feeding galleries/tunnels under the bark of infected ash trees. The gallery shape is unique to EAB so is a good way to detect and identify EAB. The larva pupates under the bark and when it emerges the adult beetle creates a D-shaped exit hole in the bark of the tree. Troy Kimoto, CFIA Staff Tree symptoms include thinning of the tree canopy, growth of epicormic shoots (suckers) that grow along the tree trunk or base of the tree, bark splitting and woodpecker activity. Ches Caister, CFIA Staff http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/plant-pests-invasive-species/insects/emerald-ash-borer/ eng/1337273882117/1337273975030 Why should we be concerned? EAB… “ poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas in North America.” https://www.canada.ca/en/food-inspection-agency/news/2017/12/emerald_ash_borerconfirmedinwinnipeg.html Even though we are an Island and are buffered somewhat by the fact that it is a bit more difficult for pests to get here on their own and we have fewer points of entry, introducing EAB (and/or other forest insect pests and diseases) is as simple as someone bringing an infested piece of firewood to our Island. Ash is fairly rare on PEI and is a culturally important species for the Mi’kmaq people. Charlottetown has 313 public ash trees and there are likely many more growing in residents private property. What plans does the City have? All of the public ash trees will be monitored annually for EAB as part of our tree management program. The City tree planting program includes a diverse number of tree species in it’s tree planting program to increase the resilience and health of our urban forest. The City has been talking to other municipalities about EAB - what they have done or what their plans are if/when EAB arrives. Stakeholders on PEI will be coming together to discuss EAB and what will happen if/when it comes to PEI. Charlottetown will be a part of those discussions. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): In an effort to prevent the spread, CFIA regulates pests such as EAB by designating an area around the location where the pest is found. The movement of ash wood/firewood out of this regulated area is restricted - ash logs/branches, ash lumber, wood packaging materials with ash, ash wood or bark, ash wood chips/bark chips, firewood (all tree species), yard waste. Current regulated areas in Canada: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/plant-pests-invasive-species/insects/emerald-ash-borer/areas-regulated/ For more information contact: Beth Hoar, Parkland Conservationist at (902) 629-4122 or [email protected] 2018 Winter Active Campaign January 14 - March 4 City of Charlottetown Parks and Recreation Department Go! Be Winter Active Bundle up and go for a walk, go skating, go snowshoeing, go cross-country skiing or just get out and participate in one of your favorite winter activities. The following trails/boardwalks are available for winter walking: the boardwalk from Victoria Park to the Friendly Pharmacy, Victoria Park trails, Beach Grove trails and the Confederation Trail within City limits. You can go cross-country skiing on one of the City’s groomed ski trails, located at Victoria Park and Belvedere Golf Course. Ski trail maps are available online and at the Recreation Office. Check out the City’s website for regularly scheduled skates at local arenas and for a list of available outdoor rinks. Go! Try Snowshoeing (FREE) Date: Sundays, January 14 - March 4 Time: 2 – 4 p.m. Location: Victoria Park (meet at the Ball Field Clubhouse, off Brighton Road) There will be a limited number of snowshoes available for use to be signed out. Bundle up and meet at the Ball Field Club- house and take part in this fun winter activity (snow conditions permitting) Free hot chocolate will be served! Go! Skating (FREE Family skates and hot chocolate!) Check out the City’s website for regularly scheduled skates at local arenas and for a list of available outdoor rinks. Date: Sunday, February 4 Date: Sunday, February 25 Time: 3 – 4 p.m. Time: 1:50 – 2:50 p.m. Location: Cody Banks Arena Location: Simmons Arena Check out the City’s website for regularly scheduled skates at local arenas and for a list of available outdoor rinks. Go! Learn to Run (L2R) Program (FREE) Have you always wanted to run, but felt you did not know how? Charlottetown Parks and Recreation Department, in part- nership with UPEI Athletics and Recreation and Go!PEI, are offering a 10-week “learn to run” program. Date: TBD Time: TBD Location: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre (UPEI) Registration is required for the Learn to Run program. To register, please contact the Charlottetown Recreation Office at 902 368-1025 or email [email protected] Go! Walk on the Boardwalk (FREE) The Charlottetown Parks and Recreation Department would like to invite everyone to bundle up and go for a Winter Walk on the Boardwalk in Victoria Park on Sunday, February 11, between 1 and 3 p.m. Participants can meet inside the Carriage House at Beaconsfield. Free hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Go! Sleigh Riding (FREE) The Charlottetown Parks and Recreation Department will be offering two Sundays of free sleigh rides to the public. Come on out and enjoy these sleigh rides in the snow along with free hot chocolate to help keep you warm.