Tree Wrapping Event
In an effort to preserve our neighbourhood trees, Trees Riverview organized a tree wrapping event along the Red River (near Balfour Ave and Churchill Drive) on Saturday May 28.
We wrapped approximately 100 trees in stucco wire to protect from beaver damage—which has been prevalent on our riverbanks in recent years.
Kevin Land, wildlife & stewardship technician for the City, joined the nine volunteers to provide guidance and some learning on how best to protect from beaver damage.
We learned that the City doesn’t relocate beavers, as this just moves the problem of tree damage to a new neighbourhood. In addition, moving a beaver into another beaver’s territory could be a death sentence for one of them. Beavers are highly territorial. Lethal traps are also a last resort—only if infrastructure is at risk.
Stucco wire is strong so beavers can’t get through it. Wrapping trees loosely means they can continue growing for years before the wire needs to be replaced.
Not all trees should be wrapped, leaving lower-value trees for the beavers. “Some trees are for wildlife and some trees are for people,” Kevin told us. Willows are resilient and will resucker. Poplars are highly desired by beavers.
Depending on the levels of damage next fall when water levels are lower, Trees Riverview will consider another tree wrapping event. A huge thank-you to volunteers who came out for this event!
Tree planting
A big shoutout to Steve Newton and Jean Altemeyer who organized another (non-Trees Riverview) community greening event—this time tree and shrub planting near the river. You will likely have seen the hundreds of bare root stock planted in row upon row standing like memorial crosses close to Ashland Ave at Churchill Drive.
Volunteers included community members from Riverview as well as some kind helpers from Kingston Row/Crescent, along with students from College Churchill High School. They planted more than 1100 trees/shrubs over four planting days.
The trees/shrubs are a mix of 9 species for good diversity, including dogwood, linden, Manitoba maple and saskatoons.
Again, City naturalist staff were on hand to distribute supplies and offer direction. The City provided the bare root stock and planting supplies, with funding from CN (among other sources).
Steve came up with the idea after participating in a community planting in another neighbourhood. Their goals: help diversify tree species, offset beaver damage and other tree loss in the neighbourhood, decrease the amount of monoculture grass (while leaving plenty of space for much used playing fields and cross country ski trails), engage the community and enhance the beauty around us.
Thank you!
