Last June, seventeen young trees were planted along the beach using funding from the city’s Community Tree Planting Program. Many volunteers diligently watered these trees throughout the summer by carrying countless pails of water from the river. Thank you volunteers for keeping the trees healthy!
Two of the trees were relocated in early November to avoid potential interference with tobogganing runs. Paul Smith, a landscaper in our community, kindly provided his expertise and equipment to assist with the relocations.
Another season of regular watering is recommended for the trees so we hope to see our volunteers again this Spring.
The Westboro Beach Community Association was successful in obtaining $8500 from the city’s Community Tree Planting Program to plant 17 new trees at Westboro Beach. The trees were planted on June 16th near the patio and along the outer edges of the beach.
Over 20 individuals and families from the community volunteered to take responsibility for watering each tree every week until Thanksgiving. Although rainy days helped out this summer, in theory more than 40 000 litres of water were carried by pail from the river across the beach to the trees this season. Thanks to all those volunteers for their commitment and for the resulting healthy trees.
The placement of a couple of the new trees could interfere with winter tobogganing runs on each side of the slope towards the beach. Later this fall, when it is appropriate to transplant these trees, volunteer labour will be organized to relocate them under the supervision of a tree expert.
The tree watering method is pretty straightforward:
- mark the level of 1 gallon (4.5 L) on the pail you plan to use
- fill your pail up to the 1 gallon mark with water from the river (you’ll have to get your feet wet)
- walk to your tree and pour the water into the “earthen saucer” at the base of the tree
- repeat steps 2 and 3 thirty times each week!
It is recommended that you pick one day each week to do your watering so that the water soaks down to the deepest roots. Early in the morning or in the evening would be best. If there are two days with substantial rainfall you won’t need to water that week. (The Environment Canada website provides the daily precipitation history for Ottawa.)
The Westboro Beach Community Association was successful in obtaining $8500 from the Community Tree Planting Program to plant 17 new trees at Westboro Beach. The trees were planted on June 16th.
The choice of trees was made by the WBCA; the National Capital Commission, the City of Ottawa tree forester and Jeff Kaster, a Westboro resident who volunteered to design the project and help with the tendering. The trees are three Eastern Poplar, five Bigtooth Aspen, three Autumn Blaze Maple, three Silver Maple, two Red Maple and one Black Willow.
Tree Plan
We have several enthusiastic volunteers watering the trees each week; if you want to be involved please contact us.
Information for Volunteers
Westboro Beach has a new tradition thanks to the efforts of local resident, Dianna Ashworth. For the second year running, this Westboro Beach community member has secured a sponsorship from a local business to provide bedding plants for the Westboro Beach pavilion. This year Sean McCann, from Royal Lepage has sponsored this beautification program.
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Neighbourhood Walk-About
A group of neighbours looked at a number of green spaces in the neighbourhood to see what areas could be improved for recreation or enhanced to make these green spaces more attractive to the residents of Westboro Beach. The report is posted is on the WBCA web site. The report was discussed at the spring general meeting.
After the annual meeting, the WBCA executive decided to focus on the area of the transitway along Workman; the beach area and the Van Lang Park.
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