City Of Guelph Completes Tree Canopy Study

PRESS RELEASE

GUELPH, ON, January 27, 2012 — Tree canopy coverage in Guelph is estimated to be 20 per cent according to a 2011 study commissioned by the City with support from TD Green Streets.

The baseline study, which was conducted by Urban Forest Innovations Inc. and Beacon Environmental, found the City’s tree canopy coverage to be higher in older, low-density residential areas as well as medium-density residential areas and on estate lots. The study also concluded tree canopy coverage tends to be lower in commercial and industrial areas and along arterial, collector roads and the Hanlon Expressway.

“The City of Guelph’s goal is to have the highest tree canopy coverage among comparable communities,” says Mayor Karen Farbridge. “This study provides us with a current understanding of the City’s tree canopy coverage and will help us make decisions regarding maintaining and enhancing Guelph’s urban forest.”

City staff will use the study’s findings to help develop the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan this spring.

Guelph was one of 23 municipalities across Canada to receive a $15,000 grant from TD Green Streets, which was matched by the City. The $30,000 paid for the tree canopy coverage study and to launch an Adopt-a-Tree Program last fall, which resulted in about 300 new trees on residential properties and 190 new trees in City parks.

For more information, visit guelph.ca/trees.

 

Unveiling of the winners of the GUFF Photo Contest

An enthusiastic and excited crowd gathered at 10 Carden St on Saturday November 26^th to view the winning photos. The photographers, their families and friends had their first opportunity to see the “photo forest” selected by the contest judges. Thanks to the financial sponsors (the Stone Store and Meridian Credit Union) the photos were printed by Ponds Foto Source and beautifully framed by Wyndham Art Supplies Kloepfer Custom Framing.

Judge Tom Dietrich gave an inspiring summary of the photos and some of the interesting artistic interpretations of the themes. It was challenging for the judges to select the winners from such an excellent collection of photo submissions. By the time we were ready for the drinks and treats there was lots of conversation about photography, the winners and the beauty of both the photos and our wonderful Guelph trees.

A big thank you is extended to all the contestants who participated and made it such a terrific event and to our judges, Tom Dietrich, Oxanna Adams and Doug Steel who did an excellent job.

The Photos remained at 10 Carden St until December 2^nd. Photographer, Nick Mares who is one of the winners, has donated a beautiful photo of a tree backlit in the morning sunshine to be used as a fundraiser for GUFF.  Details on that will be provided at a later date. You can check out his photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/33385365@N08/

Event Photo Images:

Frank Valeriote and daughter Olivia

Tyler Kasza (left) with his family Fan Club

Sue Rietschin (left) and Michelle Brock (right)

 

Brant Avenue School Gets Their New Tree.

After winning the GUFF 2011 ‘Guelph Loves Trees’ contest, Brant Avenue Public School took receipt of their prize, as promised, a new tree for their schoolyard, this fall.

Ali Morrison, arborist and Leonard Chapinsky from Chapinsky Nursery delivered the 11 year old tree. They also brought eight shovels for these enthusiastic grade 5 students to do the planting.

First, they all took turns to dig the hole. After the big dig, they straightened the tree and filled in the soil. They then mulched the base of the tree in the required donut shape. This keeps the trunk dry at the soil level but still captures water for the roots to take up.

And this is what 11 year-olds look like. The red maple tree is also 11 years old.

The students will water the tree regularly until ‘freeze-up’ and again in the spring to  help it settle in.

Congratulations Brant Avenue Public School!

 

Photo Contest 2011 – Winners Announced

We are pleased to announce the winners of our first Photo Contest featuring trees in the city of Guelph.

In both the adult and 18 years and under categories, there were 3 themes with winners in each and a grand prize winner.

A celebration with a display of the winning photos will be held on Saturday November 26 at 10 Carden Street from 10.30 a.m. to noon. All of the contestants and the contest judges will be our special guests. The public is invited to come and celebrate with the winners and see their wonderful photos.

The photo contests have been supported by The Stone Store, Meridian Credit Union, Ponds Foto Source, Wyndham Art Supplies, and Kloepfer Custom Framing.

Adult Categories

Elder Tree

• 1st: Stacey Kennedy
• 2nd: Nick Mares
• 3rd: Jeff Fletcher

Urban Forest Friends

• 1st: Michelle Brock
• 2nd: Anna Vanderkooy

Favourite Tree

• 1st: Dave Sills
• 2nd: Tom McCabe
• 3rd: Danielle Kilgour-Hack

Junior- 18 Years and Under Best Overall Photo

• Tyler Kasza (Category: Favourite Tree)

Elder Tree

• 1st: Vanessa Hodge

Urban Forest Friends

• 1st: Kayla Pryce
• 2nd: Chelsea Naclia
• 3rd: Troy Melody

Favourite Tree

• 1st: Tyler Kasza
• 2nd: Kayla Pryce
• 3rd: Mercedes Jackson
• Honourable Mention: Danielle Marance

 

Meridian Credit Union Supports GUFF Photo Contest

In picture from left to right: Cathe Lovell, Sue Rietschin, Judy Martin

On September 21, Cathe Lovell, Branch Manager at Meridian Credit Union presented  a cheque to GUFF (Guelph Urban Forest Friends) representatives, Sue Rietschin and Judy Martin to be used to support the GUFF Tree Photo Contest.

The contest is designed to build appreciation for the value of trees in the city of Guelph and the many ways that trees contribute to our environment and our lives.

The photo contest runs until October 8, 2011. Local photographers are encouraged to participate and capture images of their favorite trees, young and old, in the city.

For more information on the photo contest, check out all the details here.

Photo: Dave Sills

 

GUFF Photo Contest 2011

GUFF is having a photo contest to help celebrate Guelph’s trees with a special category  for youth submissions.

Themes

• Our Urban Forest Friends - Make a photograph that demonstrates roles that trees play in our urban forest
• My Favorite Tree - Photograph a beloved tree conveying the reasons that it is loved. You love it for its beauty, strength, age, setting, characteristics, etc.
• Our Elder Trees - Make a photograph that shows a potential heritage tree of Guelph. Ensure the tree is identifiable in the photograph. Subject trees mus be situated within the City limits of Guelph.

Adult Submission Guidelines 
Participants may submit 1 photograph of their own work for each theme for a total of 3 different photos per participant. In the accompanying email with the submission, entrants must put the theme in the subject line and in the message give their name, address, phone number, location of the tree and when photo was taken, and title of photo (optional). Each photo is to be a maximum of 2 MB. Winners may be asked for a larger size for prize purposes.

All photos to be submitted individually by email to guffphotocontest@gmail.com.

Youth Submission Guidelines
Participants must be born after on or after January 1, 1993 and currently attending a Guelph Secondary School. Participants may submit 1 photograph of their own work for each theme for a total of 3 different photos per participant. In the accompanying email with the submission, entrants must put the theme in the subject line and in the message give their name, address, phone number, name of secondary school, date of birth, location of the tree and when photo was taken, and title of photo (optional).  Each photo is to be a maximum of 2 MB. Winners may be asked for a larger size for prize purposes.

All photos to be submitted individually by email to guffjrphotocontest@gmail.com.

Deadline
Submissions will be accepted until  October 8, 2011.

GUFF will display winning photographs at an art exhibit and on our website with credit to the photographer until March 2012. Any other use of any submitted photographs will be with permission.

Judging
Entries will be judged by a panel of 3: an artist, a photographer and a tree lover. Winner will be announced on November 19, 2011. Decisions of the judges are final. First, second and third places will be determined in each category and a grand prize winner will be declared from the top 9. All winners will be notified by email.

Prizes
Winning entries will receive a professionally framed photo that will be part of an exhibit of all winners (and perhaps some honourable mentions). An additional grand prize will also be awarded.

With special thanks to Meridian Credit Union, Wyndham Arts Supplies, The Stone Store, Pond’s Foto Source, Trina Koster Photography, Kloepfer Framing and Art Gallery.

 

Mycorrhizae – Sometimes The Things You Don’t See Are The Most Important

Mycorrhizal partnerships are symbiotic, or, mutually beneficial, relationships between plants and fungi, that take place around plant roots.

Mycorrhrizae  in the soil have been shown to be essential to plant growth by facilitating the uptake of minerals and nutrients by breaking them down into available forms for the trees to use  as well as stimulating fine root development that lengthen the life of the roots.

They can also protect plants from drought, predators (such as nematode worms), and pathogens (micro-organisms that cause disease). Furthermore, in areas polluted by toxic heavy metals, fungi can buffer their plant partners against harm.

A diversity of fungi is desirable, as different fungi specialize in different functions, as mentioned above. One fungal species may be good at taking up particular nutrients, while another will be better at producing enzymes.

Threats to Mycorrhizae
Mycorrhizae can be damaged by soil compaction and disturbance, as well as by the use of certain chemicals, all of which occur in intensive agriculture and landscape maintenance.

Applying large amounts of inorganic fertilizers to young trees, can suppress the development of mycorrhizae. Excess nitrogen, whether from fertilizer use or atmospheric pollution, affects the reproductive parts of the fungus, and so could have long term effects on fungal populations.

Development practices have greatly affected the life in the soil.  Adding a handful of decaying leaves into a hole that a new tree is planted in can inoculate the soil and help bring back the organisms that the trees need so much!

 

Guelph Loves Trees Challenge 2011 – Congratulations To Brant Avenue P.S.

GUFF is pleased to congratulate the winner of this year’s Guelph Loves Trees Challenge in honour of the International Year of the Forest — Brant Avenue Public School.  A 100%  turnout from this school shows great cooperation and enthusiasm for a common goal.  GUFF presented the $500.00 award for the school library, hoping to inspire interest in tree stewardship.

The seven schools that participated were Brant Ave. P.S., June Ave. P.S., Ken Danby P.S., Ottawa Cres. P.S., Paisley Rd. P.S., Rickson Ridge P.S., and Taylor Evans P.S.

The 2011 submissions touched us deeply with their well chosen, passionate words about the need for protecting and maintaining our urban trees. The fact that there are at least 11 different ways to spell ‘oxygen’ and 7 different ways to spell ‘pollution’ in the young grades indicate the breadth of work that teachers must help them master, whether it involves the ABCs or the intricacies of our natural environment. Yet, these children do understand the connection between trees and life.

The students and teachers are all to be congratulated.

Members of GUFF and staff from the Healthy Landscapes program at the City of Guelph will go to each of the seven schools this fall to plant a tree with help from their environmental clubs.

Check out some of the submissions in our gallery.

 

The Trees In Our Life Series “Heritage Trees”- May 11

 

Growing Nut Trees And Dirt! The Movie

Join join Guelph Urban Forest Friends on April 20 for another presentation in our Trees in Our Life series. This is a free event starting at 7 p.m. at 10 Carden St.

Listen to Doug Eiche discussing Growing Nut Trees. Doug is a well known beekeeper in our area who has grown hundreds of various types of nuts around here. His experience will help you choose best types,location and maintenance practices to support good production.

Following Doug, stay and watch  Dirt! The Movie. If you have not yet seen this fascinating movie about the source of all growth, you are in for a treat. Whether you call it soil, earth or dirt, the top few centimetres of ground are vital to our resilience and sustainability. This living, breathing base may be more alive than we are.