Broom Bash Success!

Check out the courier Islander news article celebrating the 11th Annual Broom Bash

http://www2.canada.com/courierislander/news/story.html?id=3719b6cb-4d86-41a2-8fa8-f29fe51f9dee

Greenways Gallop

The Greenways Gallop is Saturday May 8th at 10am.

5 KM FUN RUN / WALK
Beaver Lodge Forest Lands*
10:00 am start
$12 early registration (by May7th @ Shorerunners)
$15 day of race registration, $5 kids under 13

Sponsored by Shore Runners Campbell River
to support Greenways Land Trust

See you out there!

VOTE FOR GREENWAYS PROJECT

Please go to this site and vote for Greenways Land Trust to receive 10K from First Credit & Insurance!! This will go towards our greenway project on Jubilee Parkway!

VOTE

For more information on this project see the above poster or call our office: 250.287.3785

The Greenways Loop is a 25km pedestrian trail around the City of Campbell River that connects residents and visitors providing increased mobility, social interaction and recreational resources. At the southern end of this pedestrian network will be the Jubilee Connector, the missing 3km of trail that will link the Rotary Seawalk to the Beaver Lodge Forest Lands along Jubilee Parkway and Highway 19A. The project will employ displaced forestry workers, enhance the visual landscape, reduce invasive species, and rehabilitate Willow Creek. As Project Manager, Greenways Land Trust will lead this greenway to completion, incorporating the needs of various stakeholders, City design guidelines and enforcing environmental protectionism.

The Jubilee Connector will be a soft surface urban trail with suburban connector links to allow for neighbouring communities to easily access the greenway. Its design priorities are connectivity, universal accessibility, maintenance ease, safety and aesthetic appeal. Bicycles, strollers and wheelchairs will be welcome on large portions of the trail. The vegetation plan for the Jubilee Connector incorporates the need for invasive species removal, native species retention, biodiversity augmentation, aesthetic appeal, safety precautions and maintenance concerns. Hearty native shrubs, grasses, wildflowers and trees have been selected for replanting. This will allow the parkland to return to a more natural state.

Pending additional financial support the trail will receive upgrades such as a resting point at Highway 19A and Jubilee Parkway. This will offer users a chance to relax and regroup at the entrance to Campbell River, an otherwise unused plot of land. A combination of benches, tables, and bike racks could be located within this project through the support of this giveaway. Completion of this project would incorporate smart growth principles, making Campbell River a more livable, inclusive and energy efficient city.

With these additions the greenway will be more inviting, increasing usage and in turn the ultimate goal of our organization. Greenways Land Trust is a non-profit organization that is devoted to enhancing and maintaining the natural environment and greenway networks of Campbell River. The completion of the Greenways Loop is a priority project that we feel would benefit greatly from your added support.

Please vote here!

What Greenways Land Trust is all About

The Courier-Islander has published a generous article on Greenways Land Trust:

It's a small organization with a big influence on the natural landscape of Campbell River; Greenways Land Trust (GLT) has had a substantial, but often uncredited, effect on much of what we enjoy about our area.

If you've explored the Beaver Lodge Forest Lands, visited Haig-Brown House or walked through Baikie Island's trails, then you've been privy to some of the numerous places where Greenways' volunteers have worked. You may have joined the Greenways Gallop or taken one of the GLT guided walks and hikes along the creek-side trails. Encouraging people to get out into their surroundings is one of the group's prime objectives.

The Greenways Land Trust - as its name implies - works to enhance the community's greenways: the trails, corridors and paths reserved for recreational use or environmental preservation. Though greenways are thought of as being for people because they make enjoying the outdoors easy for us, they are often used by wildlife as well. Birds, deer and butterflies use them for habitat and travel...

Read the rest of the article here.

Walking Program Extended

As mentioned earlier, Campbell River received a walking program grant from WalkBC to implement a free eight-week guided walk every Tuesday from noon until 1pm starting at Robron Centre. Now the program has been extended, so get out for an energizing walk and enter a chance to win an Active Living prize pack. Depending on abilities, some walkers take a regular tour of the Beaver Lodge Forest Lands.

More info - Kris at 250-286-1161.

Read more:
Walking Program Keeps Pace

Willow Creek Clean-up Results

Paintballers and volunteers from the Willow Creek Watershed Society have repaired damage done to Willow Creek last month along Jubilee Parkway. The riparian area was being used as a paintballer combat site; unauthorized users had dug holes and cut down numerous trees. Community action has remedied the problem by coming together and dismantling the site and rehabilitating the soil.

Read more here:
Groups Join in to Repair Paintballers' Damage

Beaver Lodge Forest Lands Update

The Beaver Lodge Forest Lands have undergone restoration efforts for the past six months and will continue to see more work in the coming year. After securing funding through the Community Development Trust (JOP) six months ago, Mallinson Scaling and Consulting Ltd. commenced clearing trails, falling dangerous trees and constructing bridges to facilitate a safe trail network. This will lessen user impacts and increase overall forest health.

Read the Canada.com article here.

Creek Clean-up

Volunteers needed for a creek clean-up next Saturday, November 14th.

The Willow Creek Watershed Society will be repairing riparian habitat damage done by paintballers adjacent to Willow Creek on Saturday, November 14th from 10am-12noon. Park on Jubilee Parkway, north-east of the bridge where Jubilee Parkway crosses Willow Creek (just south of Dogwood towards Highway 19A). Damage includes cutting down small alders, which have been stacked and nailed to trees to create barricades, and digging deep trenches that have exposed the roots of numerous trees. Work involves pulling down the barricades and filling holes with the trees and available fill soil. Some responsible paintballers will also be helping out too. For more information, please call Sandra at #204-2040.

Another reason to get involved -this is a portion of the proposed Greenways Loop project.

Photo from the adorable Our Big Earth Comox Valley site

Courtenay Links Trails

Last month, our neighbor the City of Courtenay brought together two greenway paths for cyclists and pedestrians. The Hawk Greenway and the Idiens Greenway extension connect East Courtenay creating an unrestricted 3.5 km trail. Great work!

More information can be found at the Comox Valley Record

The Funding is Here

With funding from the federal and provincial government the Beaver Lodge Forest Lands will receive $415,069 worth of trail improvements. The Campbell River Mirror has the full story here.

We are excited to see the results. Updates to follow.