All are invited for a walk into the Reed Road Forest on Saturday Sept. 15 at 2 p.m., followed by happy hour at a nearby residence. Local craft beer and appetizers (by donation) will be served. There will be a discussion about the recent ecological assessment carried out and ways to ensure the forest’s protection. Drive west along Reed Road, past Henry Road, until you come to a pull off on the right hand side marked by a gate. The hike is moderate with steep sections. No dogs, please.
Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF) commissioned the study (July 2018) by Allen Banner into two forested blocks, one of which was the Reed Road Forest. ELF members will be on hand to discuss the results. “Historically, this District Lot (DL1313) was given Watershed Reserve status and is designated in the Elphinstone Official Community Plan as ‘Park, which should be acquired for current and future park use and environmental protection’ (Sunshine Coast Regional District Staff Report 2016). Such historical precedents should be considered as candidates for conservation within a focused strategy for rare and threatened ecosystems,” Banner recommends.
Hans Penner of ELF said, “The Reed Road Forest Reserve was identified as having a well established under-storey of sword fern, tall salmonberry, huckleberry and red elderberry under a canopy of tall Douglas firs (one measured at 70 m tall) with emerging red cedar and hemlock.” The 70 m tall fir (referred to as the ‘big tree’) might be a good candidate for a ‘heritage tree’ nomination. The full report, Ecological Reconnaissance of BCTS Blocks A93884 and A91376, can be found at: loggingfocus.org.
With stage 4 water restrictions in place, keeping a basin in the sink to catch clean-up water can save your prized, parched plants; it’s amazing how many times a day I empty mine. We capture some shower water by placing a bucket in the tub when we shower which gets emptied onto whatever shrubs need it most. Admittedly not for the faint of heart, we’ve rigged up our washing machine to empty into a rain barrel which we hose out into the yard. Soap in small, diluted amounts will not damage plants, but less is best. Those foresighted enough to have large rain-barrels or dug ponds will be happy they went to the trouble!
Important notice – the Elphinstone Community Association (ECA) will not hold its regular public meeting on the second Wednesday of September. Instead the ECA will host an all candidates meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at Frank West Hall. Candidates for both Area E director and school board will answer your questions.
Let me know if you have Elphinstone news (or water-saving tips!) to share at: [email protected].
