Author: Paul Berry

I am trying out some simple observations for monitoring the “Ecological Integrity” of The Bluff Trail and the larger Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area. One is an “Orchid Count”.

On June 16 of last year, I counted the number of Pink Lady’s Slipper Orchids (also known as the Moccasin Orchid) between the trailhead of The Bluff Trail and the Pot Lake Junction which is the most intensively used part of The Bluff Trail On that date, they were at their peak colour and most readily observable. I counted only orchids that could be observed from the Trail, and I did it twice, once going out and once coming back and took the larger number as the best estimate, which was 133. (See Orchids 2014)

I repeated the count this year on June 15, 2015, but took a much younger observer with me, Kai, aged 13,  who also did a count. Continue reading “Orchid Counts 2015: Good News!”

Late spring blooms on The Bluff Trail & by the BLT

                                                 Click on panels for larger versions.

Nature lovers, hikers and all who appreciate wild lands are encouraged to provide input to the Halifax Green Network Plan (HGNP) by adding pins/descriptions to the HGNP online mapping tool to identify lands are that important for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.

This map and information about the HGNP are available at http://halifax.ca/HalifaxGreennetwork/

Input to the map can also be made at “Pop-up” Sessions – one has recently been added for Tantallon on June 23.

A memo written by the Our HRM Alliance Greenbelt Scientific Advisory Committee
http://tinyurl.com/ntqk98b
provides some further context from an ecological perspective.

As a component of Phase 1 (Phase 1 – Planning Foundations the values, issues and goals) of the Halifax Green Network Plan the map is available for input is available only to the end of June, 2015.
Continue reading “Contribute to Map for Halifax Green Network – by June 30”

A short paddling excursion on Hubley Big Lake at Halifax, Nova Scotia in early June reveals Bog Rosemary in flower & other delights…View video

The presence of Bog Rosemary at the inlet to the lake is indicative of low nutrient enrichment which is a desirable quality.

Click on the photo at left to view a larger version and see the beautifully textured leaves. View more photos in a Google album

I went to The Bluff Trail on a very wet Saturday, June 6, 2015 to greet hikers on behalf of WRWEO. (We maintain The Bluff Trail.) I met only four people over 4 hours, so I had lots of time to enjoy the wildflowers and textures of plants on The Bluff Trail. View a few that caught my attention. A YouTube Video offers more description and context.
– David P

The Bluff Trail and other activities of WRWEO are maintained by volunteers. Taking out a membership in WRWEO/The Bluff Trail costs only $10 and helps support those activities as well as giving more credence to our collective voice. You can now do this online. In the afternoon of today (June 6) which is International Trails Day, a WRWEO rep will be greeting visitors on the First Loop and offering membership and map for $10, or the map alone for $5. Its a good time to see Pink Lady’s Slipper and other late spring wildlfowers.

Visiting the “Whopper Dropper” today was a reminder of what could have happened to much of our Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area and could still happen to still happen to adjacent wildlands if we do not value them… View Requiem

“Halifax Regional Council has identified the need for a strategic vision and a planning & implementation framework for protecting and managing open space. The public is being asked to give input into the plan. Here’s a list of the upcoming public engagement opportunities. Please join us. We want to hear from you!”

Saturday, May 30th 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Pop-Up Event
Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Road, Halifax
Continue reading “Halifax Green Network Public Consultations May 30 – June 20, 2015”

An article in Halifax Media Coop by Rebecca Hussman describes the struggles of the Harrietsfield-Williamswood community to have their drinking water properly tested and to gain access to safe water. “Despite all the publicly available documents dating back to the early 1980s which indicate high levels of uranium in the area, no health impact studies have ever been done within the Harrietsfield-Williamswood region.” View article

You’re invited by Our HRM Alliance to join CARP and Ecology Action Centre members on a hike in the Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area. The hike will start and end at the Maskwa Aquatic Club on Kearney Lake (91 Saskatoon Ave, off Kearney Lake Road, Halifax). Meet in the parking lot at 10am, the hike goes to 1pm. The route will include Charlie’s Lake, the Stone Fireplace and Fox Lake. Bring water, snacks, and appropriate clothing and footwear, as the hike will happen rain or shine! The hike will be led by John Moore of the Maskwa Aquatic Club, and the EAC’s Wilderness Coordinator Raymond Plourde will be present. Any questions can be emailed to Dana Lipnicki at dana@ecologyaction.ca.