Community Placemaking. Volunteer Forest Conservation. 50 years 1972-2022

Happy anniversary to the Richard St. Barbe baker Afforestation Area and the George Genereux Urban Regional Park, 1972 to 2022! Your trees are 50 years old now.

New fencing presents challenges and opportunities for walkers and cyclists enjoying the afforestation areas. Here is how to access the afforestation areas easily as demonstrated by Jeff Hehn of the Fatlanders Fat Tire Brigade whose group created the Winter Trail Network.

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas realized that working in a protected naturalized space like the two afforestation areas needed special attention to environmental issues, which our team handled with care under the judicious advisement from the Meewasin Valley Authority and the City of Saskatoon. The Meewasin had installed tried and true wildlife fencing at the North East Swale, and here also this will accommodate the animals which call this semi-wilderness habitat their home. The City of Saskatoon came through with an environmental assessment of the afforestation areas, and other on-site solutions. The CNR came through with protective STOP signs at the level crossing. Trans Gas site supervisor was there to ensure that the job was completed without incident. Sask Power provided advice to ensure the forest didn’t disappear into flames.

As the afforestation areas have transformed from Saskatoon’s Best Kept Secrets, to Saskatoon’s Hidden Gems, they are public spaces which need a fencing solution to enhance and protect the natural beauty of the forest. These fences block as little of the view as possible and provides a compliment to the space. If you have a public space, park or private property, CKQ Fencing are a great fencing construction team.

Animals run at top speeds of 60 to 80 km / hour (40 to 50 mph) and flying animals fly in at over 110 km / hour (70 mph) As part of the solution, fencing wires that are too hard to see for speeding animals pose a problem for wildlife so special reflective, and dual color wildlife markers were installed to mitigate problems into the future for park users and wildlife protections.

This fencing will mitigate trash dumping in the forest by those too lazy or too cheap to use the landfill. The many users of the parks space, forest and wetlands are so very grateful to the City of Saskatoon, volunteers for coming through since 2015 in helping to keep the afforestation areas safe and clean from toxic and hazardous waste. The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas have been grateful to work with the City of Saskatoon Environmental Protection Officer, Regan Olson, in arranging clean ups at the afforestation areas. Though the many community volunteers take pride in restoring these natural areas as safe wildlife habitats, and great places for the public to connect with nature. At a large community meeting the solution to the situation looked at park signage and barriers as a strategy to prevent illegal dumping so that clean ups didn’t need to be done year after year. If you see anyone dumping trash, or damaging the forest or fence in any way please help be eyes on the forest. Remember to report pollution dumpers, hunters, poachers to the Turn in Poachers and Polluters (TIPP) Government of Saskatchewan hotline. https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/parks-culture-heritage-and-sport/hunting-trapping-and-angling/turn-in-poachers-program

Fencing creates a sense of place for the community. For more placemaking and the history of the Richard St. Barbe baker Afforestation Area and the George Genereux Urban Regional Park sign up for the Wildwoods of Saskatoon Heritage Documentary film going virtual October 24, 2022 at 7:00 pm cst on Zoom and on YouTube for Livestream: Sign up now FriendsAreas.ca

Wildwoods of Saskatoon Film
http://www.friendsareas.ca/
October 24 at 7:00 pm

Eventbrite page to sign up for the film viewing bit.ly/3rk33pN

Wildwoods of Saskaton Film Pamphlet for Download for more information
https://kvisit.com/8wE/gvYG