Group aims to potect landmark trees
Saving the past while looking to the future is among the core goals that grounds supporters of the Kelowna Tree Protectors.
The group of volunteers has been instrumental in identifying, cataloguing and marking old growth trees in Kelowna, predominantly in the city’s North End near Knox Mountain, and in the south around Abbott Street.
The group recently sought the help of Kelowna city council to stave off the destruction of the unique trees at a proposed housing development at the corner of Central Avenue and Kingsway Avenue.
“The few that were left on the development site were completely gone this past January,” said Bev Kalmakoff, chair of the Kelowna Tree Protectors.
But while that skirmish was mostly lost (the Pleasantvale housing project agreed to keep four trees) the group has forged ahead with the organized marking of unique trees that stand on private properties around town.
The sign posts are similar to those marked heritage homes, and will perform a similar task; informing people as to why we need trees, how to protect trees we have, and what trees should be planted for the future.
With the help of the Strong Neighborhoods incentive, and an initial grant of $1,500, the volunteers went to private property owners asking them if they would support having their special tree identified with a permanent metal plaque.
The sign posts are “educational, informative and interesting,” Kalmakoff explained. “We have 57 identification signs installed, and have plans to add more. It’s to educate people on the value of trees and how they fit into our urban forest and how to preserve our tree canopy.”
Many are crucial in pulling urban particulates and pollutants out of our air, excel at absorbing CO2 and create natural heat reducing canopies during hot Okanagan summers.
Trees also create habitats for small mammals, are a food source for some and are also home for insects.
She added that the signs are not “super scientific” but focus on the characteristics of the individual trees, the origins and how the species ended up in the Okanagan.
Some of the towering giants scattered throughout the Abbott Street corridor, soar almost 95 feet above those who walk past and have stood their ground for many decades.
Some of the trees could live as long as 400 years. There’s a London Plane tree suitably planted on Vimy Avenue while a nearby English Oak is a cousin to similar trees in Bulgaria that have been dated to being 1,500 years old.
A Black Locust on Ethel St. is so massive, it would take four or five people to encircle its gnarly girth and is a species dating to the 1600s, used to make railway ties and build homes. In spring bloom, it smells like orange blossoms, but hides nasty thorns, making it all the more intriguing.
A magnificent Saucer Magnolia was first cultivated as a species in France by a cavalry officer in Napoleon’s army. The species found its way to this region in the 1950s. It still attracts newlyweds who pose under its pink-purple goblet-shaped petals.
The City of Kelowna bylaws place to protect heritage trees on city property, and the efforts of the KTP to do the same on private property are welcome.
While the group wasn’t successful in stopping trees coming down in the North End development, Kalmakoff is optimistic that “getting the ball rolling sooner” in the development process, will be helpful in in future.
The KTP has about 80 members and was formed some six years ago. Meetings are held monthly in various forms, from in-person at public venues like the library, to outdoor meets or online Zooms.
They encourage anyone who has the interest and energy to get involved in whatever way they can, to help with preserving, protecting and educating people on Kelowna’s urban forests.
The group also encourages families, from pre-schoolers to adults, to get involved with the current tree book reading challenge.
“Reading lists are available online and at the Kelowna Library.
“We hope people of all ages will get involved, read a book on trees, take a photo with the book and tree, and email it to us, at KTP,” Kalmakoff said.
The challenge coincides with Heritage Week across Canada, from mid-February through mid-April.