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Bluff Trail Stewardship Program – Update and Monthly Reports

Thanks to all donors for your support of the Bluff Trail Stewardship Program (BTSP). Your donations are really helping us make a difference – of the first 212 days of the BTSP (January 1 to July 31, 2017) we have had trail stewards on trail for 56 of those days (26%), and they have spent 830 hours on trail.
Our Stewardship Coordinator, Mike Lancaster, and Stewardship Assistant, Fiona Brooks, deserve lots of kudos and have trained 26 volunteer stewards to date. That has allowed us to talk to over 607 people about how they can help protect the Bluff Trail and steward it into the future. It has also helped us remediate and repair the trail by building barriers to trail spurs and braids, hardening the trail with found stone, remediating fire pits, and inspecting our Leave-No-Trace educational sites. 
I also want to thank Kimberly Berry, a WRWEO volunteer, who is the WRWEO Board’s liaison with the BTSP and has dedicated a lot of time to raising funds and ensuring the success of the BTSP.
Below are the monthly reports summarizing the BTSP activities and results:
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Goodwill Bot – fundraiser for the Bluff Trail

Goodwill Bot event at the Good Robot Brewing Company – Fundraiser for the Bluff Trail Stewardship Program

Where – 2736 Robie St, Halifax, NS B3K 4P2
When – Monday August 21, 2017 from 12 noon until closing (our volunteers will be there from 4pm onwards to talk about the trail and how you can help!)
Why – One dollar from beer purchases will go to the stewardship of the Bluff Trail
http://goodrobotbrewing.ca/
http://blufftrail.ca

Update – we raised $498 and had 8 new members sign up, thanks Good Robot

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Requests for proposals – trail work, side of trail brush cutting, dead fall removal, trail hardening with found stone

Are you interested in submitting bids on work in the back country on the Bluff Wilderness Hiking Trail?

Work to be completed –

  • RFP #1 – side of trail brush cutting & dead fall removal,
  • RFP #2 – trail hardening with found stone

You must have Workers Compensation coverage and follow Halifax’s Occupational Health and Safety guidelines.

Please get in touch with WRWEO to get copies of our two RFPs for this season – contact us at info@wrweo.ca or call 902-876-7377.

WRWEO receives financial support for maintenance from Halifax.

WRWEO recognizes the support of the Province of Nova Scotia. We are pleased to work in partnership with the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.

 

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Orchid Count 2017

On The Bluff Trail June 13, 2017: Lady’s slipper orchids at left, albino below; Labrador tea in flower, the last of the Rhodora in flower, swallowtail butterflies, huckleberry in flower and swamp sparrow in song.
Click on image for larger version.
On this hot, bright mid-June day, we (David P and Kai) counted the number of lady’s slipper orchids that could be seen from the trail between the trailhead and the Pot Lake junction. I counted one side going in, Kai the other and we switched on the way back giving two independent counts for both sides of the trail. As in 2015 and 2016, Kai (now 15) viewed far more than David P (“a senior”)

Here are the numbers from today and from 2014, 2015 and 2016.

June 13, 2017: 135 (Dave) 336 (Kai)

Lady’s Slipper orchids abound on the Bluff Trail (2016) : 434 (Kai)

Orchid Counts 2015: Good News!: 147 (Dave) 262 (Kai)

Mid-June Wildflowers on The Bluff Trail (2014): 133 (Dave)

So… Kai’s number was down a bit from last year, but above his count for 2015. Overall, the lady’s slipper orchids appear to be doing quite OK, which is welcome news given that use of the trail increased greatly over the last 2 years. Other native species were doing just fine as well, some shown in the photo panel at top.

Another welcome result: No exotic plant species were observed, although there are many on the BLT. Together, these indicators suggest that the Ecological Integrity on this busiest section of The Bluff Trail is being maintained.

Also, no garbage and no fire pits for which we can thank the many volunteers, and the hikers!

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May 15-June 12: Final Public Engagement, Halifax Green Network Plan

The Halifax Regional Municipality is conducting the third and final phase of public engagement for the Halifax Green Network Plan, a decision-making framework for the conservation of a region-wide network of open space. A number of planning and implementation directions have been drafted using public input and study results from the earlier phases of work and are contained in the Halifax Green Network Plan Primer Report.

Public engagement for this phase will occur in a series of public meetings across HRM from May 15 to June 12, 2017. The most convenient session for most Backland folks will be May 16 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Atlantica Hotel Halifax (Guild Hall) 1980 Robie Street.

Read more on HRM website

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WRWEO AGM 2017 – Documents and Material

WRWEO / The Bluff Wilderness Hiking Trail
Annual General Meeting
30 March 2017
BMO Community Room, 2nd Floor, Halifax Central Library
5:30-6:00 Registration
6:00-8:00 AGM
8:00-8:30 Networking

We will be serving a sweet treat at the end of the meeting, but will not be serving beverages. Please feel free to bring a travel mug and purchase your own beverage prior to the meeting. Travel mugs are permitted in the meeting room.

In an effort to reduce consumption, printed copies of the following reports will NOT be provided at the AGM. You may wish to review the reports prior to the meeting and make your own decision about what items you need to print.

AGM 2017 DRAFT Agenda

2016 03 31 AGM Minutes to be approved

Some Images from the Sign-In Book (Facebook Link)

Chairs Report 2017

WRWEO Financial Statements 2016 – for 2017 AGM

Bluff Trail Stewardship Program: General Overview

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WRWEO’s Annual General Meeting – Thursday March 30, 2017

Woodens River Watershed Environmental Organization (WRWEO) builder of the

Bluff Wilderness Hiking Trail

Frederick Lake, near the Bluff Trail
Frederick Lake, Hubley, NS

Introducing the Bluff Trail Stewardship Program
Helping the Trail We Love

Thursday March 30th, 2017 – Halifax Central Library
BMO Community Room, 2nd Floor
Doors open for registration at 5:30 PM
Meeting 6PM – 8PM

Optional WRWEO membership available at door $5
For more information contact: info@wrweo.ca