Eternal forest being planted
Memorial forest of 12,000 spruce trees will honour John Edward Dalton
In a former parched potato field, MaryEllen Gaudet continues a legacy to grow 12,000 white spruce trees, along with native hardwoods, which will spring into a forest surrounding a poppy seed pathway. The John Edward Dalton and MaryEllen Gaudet Memorial Forest Habitat Conservation Area is located on 11 acres in Baltic, P.E.I.
“John took 11 acres of his land and joined the P.E.I. Forest Enhancement Program to plant white spruce trees on the former farmland of his maternal grandfather. This was in 2013, before he unexpectedly died two years later,” explained Gaudet, Dalton’s cousin.
Gaudet, an environmentalist who owns eight acres of woodland in Stanley Bridge, purchased Dalton’s estate to carry forward his name and passion for the environment. The barren land will be transformed into an eternal memorial forest for future generations to enjoy.
“Mark Arsenault, a habitat and wildlife technician, lobbied with the board on the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture and Forestry and now the land is protected under the habitat conservation area. In my will I have stated that this land is to be protected forever. It’s a memorial forest and I will donate it to Island Nature Trust when I die. The forest will tie into their educational programs, and last spring I built a $3,000 parking pad that can accommodate a (school) bus,” she said.
In the centre of the forest, Gaudet will commemorate Dalton, who served as a marine engineer in the Navy, with a memorial stone.
“He was a veteran, so the idea of the poppy seed path system came to me in the middle of the night. I just took a piece of paper and drew it, so I’m putting a lot of my own money and time on this project.”
Picnic tables and a small shelter will overlook the stone that will have a storyline on the back, shedding light on Dalton’s generous nature. He left a legacy of caring in his wake.
“John has three main legacies,” said Gaudet. “He started this habitat conservation area, he gave a gift to the P.E.I. Humane Society to help build a new surgery room, and he built an engineer room at Dalhousie University. He was also a longtime donor at the Prince County Foundation, and he gave a sizable gift to support their equipment fund. He has a plaque on their wall.
Gaudet has left instructions in her will for Island Nature Trust to turn the forest into a protected area.
“When I die it will be passed to them and the next step up is to 100 per cent protect the land. Nobody can ever touch it, so that’s one more piece of land for the foxes, eagles and other wildlife.”
And like the red poppies that blow in Flanders fields in France, so too do the tree seedlings.
“The wind is blasting the trees making it hard for them to grow, but because I’m a carpenter I go to the waste watch drop-off area and recycle materials to make natural wind blockers that protect the tiny trees. This will speed up the growing process, so in 10 to 15 years I hope we will have a forest.”
Gaudet hopes volunteers will join her in efforts to grow and maintain the living tribute.
“I’ve done 80 per cent of the work myself and it will be great to get volunteers to help,” she concluded.
Those interested in volunteering can contact Island Nature Trust.