Trees of Vancouver

The purpose of this website is to celebrate the connection between the urban forest and the citizens of Vancouver. How? We want to:

Spark – awareness of our trees and the sense of wonder they inspire when we take the time to stop and see them.

Celebrate – offer a place for people to tell their stories about trees that have had meaning in their lives.

Educate – by collecting and verifying species of trees that are linked to google maps, the site will offer answers to the question, “What kind of tree is that?” or “Where can I find a Davidia involucrata?”

Connect – with other people on-line in forums and face-to-face via a Trees of Vancouver ‘meet-up’. Meet-ups will be held to document basic information (species, location, photo) of trees in public spaces, such as the old Arboretum at UBC.

Create ‘tree walks’ – allow people to search the collection and craft their own walking/cycling maps of the city. Maps might target a single species or a neighbourhood. Mapmakers can offer their ‘tree walks’ to others via an online collection.

Googlemap – provide a map that is linked to the trees and their stories. Click on the Tree Map text in the right hand column for an example.

Involve – initial opportunities for involvement include contributing a tree story, participating in the forums, attending ‘meet-ups’ and creating ‘tree walks’. Once the site is established and funding secured, programs for schools and seniors will be developed, ideally marrying the technological expertise of the students with the memories and stories of the seniors.

Remember – the outpour of emotion surrounding the Hollow Tree in Stanley Park indicates that people want to share their memories of significant trees.

Salvage – utilize the wood from trees that are removed.

Yes, it’s a long list, but it can be tackled one piece at a time. If you want to help make this a reality, please email me at jean@treesofvancouver.org or comment on this site.

Thank you for your interest.

Why is there such a hurry to cut trees that take so long to grow? We need to tell the Parks Board what we, the citizens of Vancouver, want.

The loss of an arboretum, of mature trees “that are not rare or endangered in the wild” is still a huge loss. Even the loss of a well-rotted, barely standing stump (such as Stanley Park’s Hollow Tree) has caused outpourings of memories and emotions.

My intent in developing a website called ‘Trees of Vancouver’ was never to engage in activism. The intent was to create a place for the people of Vancouver to tell the stories of their trees. Unfortunately, trees are still considered a renewable resource, rather than a repository for memory and a source of inspiration and awe. In the time it takes to pull together a non-profit, hire a programmer and get this site up and running, I fear that many trees will end up being recorded in the ‘In Memorium’ pages.
Below is some info about a Parks Board open house. I invite you to attend.

Queen Elizabeth Park Tree Management Plan

The Vancouver Park Board is seeking public input on a proposal to restore the significant views from Queen Elizabeth Park.Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest point in the city at 153 meters (501 feet) above sea level. It has long been a favorite location for viewing the City and the surrounding area, for residents and tourists alike. In recent years, the trees have largely obstructed the view to the downtown core. The Tree Management Plan balances the management of the trees with regaining the diminishing view.

The Plan proposes to remove approximately 70 trees to restore views. None of the trees to be removed are rare or endangered in the wild. A biologist will be retained to identify nesting trees, and removal of such trees would be delayed to minimize impact to nesting animals. Trees removed will be replaced on a two-for-one basis. Replacement tree species will be chosen for their beauty, adaptability to our Vancouver climate, and wildlife value.

A public open house will be held:

When: Thursday May 29, 2008 Time: 5:00 - 9:00 pm (presentation at 7:00)

Where: Celebration Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Park (Enter park via 33rd and Ontario St. Free parking for the evening)

For further information about the meeting, contact: Cheryl Innes, Administrative Assistant Phone: 604-257-8689 E-mail: pbcomment@vancouver.ca Web site: www.vancouverparks.ca

 received by email…an opportunity to salvage logs from Stanley Park

Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation

 ”Pick Up Sticks” Event

When: Friday, May 23 from 10am to 2pm.

No earlybirds or latecomers, please.

Where: In the parking lot behind the Stanley Park Service Yard.

During the windstorm of December 2006, many trees in Stanley Park were blown down and the restoration of the park has been ongoing since then. There are currently a limited number of logs available to carvers and other artists who work with wood. These logs are free of charge to any interested artist.

Any material that you choose must be removed during the event. We cannot, hold, save or otherwise store anything for pick up at a later date.

Due the limited number of logs, each artists will be limited to one piece of material. A Park Board employee will be on site to assist if you only want a section of one of the available logs.

The Virtual Gallery

Artists are asked to bring a CV (on CD or DVD if possible) to the event. A photo of each artist and the piece of wood they choose will be taken. We are asking all artists to send images of the artworks they create for a digital gallery on the Park Board website showcasing ‘before and after’ photos and information about the artists..

To access the Service Yard Parking Lot, enter Stanley Park from Georgia Street. At the roundabout follow the trolley bus wires up Pipeline Road, more or less straight ahead, take the second driveway on the left, just past the Rose Garden, into Central West Parking Lot. The wood material is at the north end of the lot.

jil p. weaving
Coordinator, Arts and Culture
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation

jil.weaving@vancouver.ca

604-257-8495
181 Roundhouse Mews,
V6Z 2W3

The seed of an idea - a website that catalogues the trees of Vancouver.

A place to share photos, memories and stories about your favorite trees in our city. A place to search for species type, relevant books, local resources and events that celebrate our urban forest.

A place to post remembrances of trees past, wood available for salvage, and when & where to find flowering trees.

Germinating soon…