RARE VIEW INSIDE TREE

This is the opening to the giant centuries old cottonwood in the McLellan Park East Forest. You may have read about it Kent Spencer's story  in the Province on Monday

The tree is hollow inside at the base allowing people to climb inside. This is what that looks like from the outside.

But not many people know what it looks like inside the tree. Someone sent me this  picture Sunday night.

  The Old Man of the Forest grows mushrooms. Well taking up gardening when you get older is rather common.
-Kirk Robertson

ARTISTS JOIN EFFORT TO SAVE FOREST

Here is the link to  article in The Province today (Monday October 29).

LANGLEY EVENT CREATES ART FOR THE PARK

 Read it here
Read the invitation here

INDEPENEDENT ECOLOGICAL REPORT CONFIRMS IMPORTANCE OF MCLELLAN PARK FOREST

Page 5: 
The drier forests of Lots 13, 16 and a portion of 12 are the CWHxm1/07 (Western Redcedar/Three-leaved Foamflower) ecological community which is Red-listed (threatened or
endangered) and S2 (provincially imperiled). If the threats to this community are not removed across its range, it will likely become extirpated or extinct within the CWHxm1.

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This collective of natural features is the last refuge for animals and plants that occupy and define the ecological communities once common in the area.

The veteran Black Cottonwood at the southeast corner of Lot 12 (Figure 1), with a dbh of approximately 1.75 m (estimated, not measured), is one of the largest in the Township of Langley.

The liverwort Riccardia multifida occurs on rotting logs and mud in some of the same areas as Hookeria lucens. It is typical of humid forests of the lowlands. Neither species has been
observed previously in Langley by the authors. These organisms and the communities that
comprise the remnant natural features are important biological legacies that will eventually be lost from Langley and the lower mainland unless relatively large natural areas are retained. 

On September 20 environmental consultant Phil Henderson and  naturalist Glenn Ryder visited the Mclellan Park East forest. The observations that they they made became the basis of a report that they presented to Township of Langley and Watchers of Langley Forests by email on Thursday October 18.
In the report Henderson and Ryder detail the varying ecology of the forest.



In the accompanying email Phil Henderson said;
Glenn Ryder, renowned naturalist, and I visited the properties that are subject to sale north of and adjacent to Gray Pit on September 20, 2012. During our visit we recorded information on plants, animals and ecology and we present that information in the attached report. Our intention, as outlined in the Introduction section of the report, is to provide some objective information that will hopefully inform decisions regarding the future of this land. Our primary targets for this report were WOLF and the Township of Langley, but the report can be freely distributed. We hope it proves useful.
                      

The introduction reads 

 Introduction

The Township of Langley (TOL) solicited “requests for offers” for the purchase of three
contiguous forested properties adjacent to 252nd St. and 84th Ave. and five contiguous 5 acre
(ac.) properties east of 257A St. and north of Gray Pit in northeast Langley (TOL RFO 12-1). The
deadline for submissions was June 29, 2012. Local residents and concerned citizens who
opposed the sale based on the properties’ ecological and cultural values, banded together
under the acronym WOLF (Watchers of Langley Forests) to protest their sale. In response to
their protestations and those of others, the Township rescinded the sale of the three properties
adjacent to 252th St. but not the five properties adjacent to Gray Pit (Table 1, Figure 1). The five
remaining properties adjacent to Gray Pit are the subject of continued efforts by WOLF to stop
their sale.

Glenn Ryder provided significant historical wildlife data from 1955 (Ryder 1955) for WOLF that
covered the three western properties and extended eastward to 256th St. While those data
provide important information for the general area and are an excellent account of wildlife
present before extensive development in the area, they do not specifically address the five
parcels that remain for sale. Strix Environmental Consulting’s reports on Gray Pit (Strix 1999
and 2000) provide limited information because they focussed on the Gray Pit extraction area
and small sections of the south forest edge.

In an effort to provide recent information specific to the subject properties, Phil Henderson and
Glenn Ryder conducted a brief survey on September 20, 2012 of the lots referred to in TOL’s
ROF 12-1, namely Lots 12-16, DL 320 GP2 NWD Plan 1560. Henderson and Ryder’s intentions
were to “determine its existing conditions” as outlined under Examination of the Site in TOL’s
RFO 12-1 and provide objective, up to date information on plants, animals and ecology for all
interested parties, notably WOLF and the Township of Langley. This information is intended to
inform decisions regarding the future of the properties.


  It is important  to stress the Phil Henderson and Glenn Ryder undertook this project at their own initiative at on their own time. WOLF and the Township were not apprised of their activities until the week the report was released. Their combined expertise is truly impressive.Phil Henderson is a well respected environmental consultant who has conducted work for the Township. Glenn Ryder is naturalis who began field research over fifty years ago.


This study backs up WOLF's contention that this forest has important ecological characteristics and values. . Our  view has been strengthened that the forest  is an important example of biodiversity in the Township.
We remain committed to it's preservation. WOLfF hopes that the Mayor and Council factor the report into their decision making.

If you would like to read the whole report go here                                                                                                                           
 

AFTERNOON OF ART AND ACTION

Afternoon of Art & Action in Glen Valley, Langley

On Sunday Oct. 28 from 1-3 p.m., you are cordially invited to join a group of artists (visual artists, writers, photographers, etc.) who will be assembling to witness and raise awareness about a spectacular 25 acre forest in Glen Valley, just east of Fort Langley.

Five forested lots have been put up for sale by the Township of Langley – it has been listed as a “heavilytreed, blank canvas”. Not many people know about the beauty and ecological value of this biologically diverse and mature forest, and there is little time to make Langley residents aware of what will be lost if the property is sold.  The Township may be willing to sell it to a local society if the small group can raise $3 million in a very small window of time.

Saving this forest ecosystem will provide a lasting legacy, not only to our children, but our children’s and perhaps countless generations.  Artists can play an important role in building public appreciation and awareness.

Bring your art supplies, writing pads, cameras and take a tour through the area.  Hot tea and cookies will be provided.  Bring an umbrella if it’s raining under the glorious canopy.   

We will meet at the trail entrance on 257A Street, just north of the intersection with 84^th Avenue.  Click here for a Google Maps link that will help you identify how to get to the site.  It is just east of Fort Langley, and not far from the Fort Winery.

For more about this even information contact poet Susan McCaslin at smccaslin@shaw.ca

 

WHY THE FOREST MATTERS :THE VIDEO

Last Sunday a group of concerned citizens gathered in the Eastern Mclellan Forest on one of the wettest rainiest days in a long time to explain why the forest matters to them and should matter to all of us. This is the first of two videos.

FOREST TOURS THIS FALL

 Members of the public will have an opportunity this fall to attend organized tours of the Mclellan Park East Forest in Glen Valley just minutes away from Fort Langley. Every Saturday and Sunday at 2pm half hour tours will be offered by Watchers of Langley Forests(WOLF) They will start out from a trailhead  on 257a street. Come visit the forest that Professor David Jordan of Trinity Western describes as being of "regional ecological significance".

This is a 25 acre parcel that is for sale by the  Township. It is a mixed conifer/deciduous forest with different types of habitat. There is extensive vegetation on the forest floor, various tree types and over 100 species of birds and animals that have been observed by naturalists. Some of the trees may be as old as 240 years. One area may have been marsh/bog in the nineteenth century and very likely has never been logged. Another area  contains some stumps with evidence of pioneer logging. The thick vegetation makes this forest appear larger than its 25 acres.
Visit the photo album of the Forest.
WOLF are a group of Langley residents who have come together in support of conserving this forest. This tour is part of their public awareness campaign.
No appointment is necessary but an email to savemclellanpark@gmail.com letting WOLF  know you are coming would be appreciated. Address it to Kirk Robertson

 

Date: Every Saturday and Sunday this fall!
Place: Forest in the Glen Valley area of Langley Township
Time: Two pm both Saturday and Sunday
Bring: Good hiking boots, moderate exercise tolerance
Directions:If coming from Fort Langley follow River Road east, make a right at 256th Street, then make a left on to 84th Ave. 257th Street is on the left-hand side. If coming from Aldergrove go north on 264th Street, make a left on to 84th Ave, 257th street is on the the right-hand side