You can get involved in the next phase of the Moorecroft Regional Park Management Plan at an open house on Saturday, February 11, 2012. The open house event is scheduled for 12 noon to 4pm at Kennedy Lodge in Moorecroft Park, located at the end of Stewart Road in Nanoose Bay.

Participants will have the opportunity to comment on three different strategies for managing the park.

RDN staff is working with O2 Planning and Design, the Nature Trust of BC, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada to facilitate and oversee the plan, which is scheduled to be complete in November 2012.

For more information about this open house and other opportunities for public engagement, email moorecroft(at)rdn.bc.ca or contact Kelsey Cramer, RDN Regional Parks Planner.

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Mid Island News

Sad news to report from the Team Linley Valley West, they have reported that last week 12 beavers were trapped and  killed.

If you have watched the videos of this area you can see the beavers were swimming around just this past summer.

Are you looking for a good reason to go out and vote in the civic elections this week?

Maybe it’s time to ask yourself what will Nanaimo look like in twenty years?

Also, you can check out this Linley Valley West page.

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Mid Island News

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o48MG7M0Cw

The Linley Valley Team has approached Nanaimo City Council to request that the undeveloped lands in west Linley Valley be designated as a nature park.

Currently, the Linley Valley provides habitat for beaver, stickleback fish, red legged frogs, pileated woodpeckers and other flora and fauna.

These lands are approximately 310 acres in size excluding the lands currently under development as a residential subdivision adjacent to Rutherford Road. Some are designated for imminent development while others are identified in the Official Community Plan as “Urban Reserve” and are earmarked for future urban development.

To designate the lands as a nature park and protect them fully from development would likely require that the lands be acquired from the existing owners at market value. The assessed value of the total 310 acres is currently $6.6 million.

Nanaimo Info Blog has reported that the City of Nanaimo has decided instead to spend $16 million dollars on a new building to house 160 staff.

I echo Nanaimo Info Blog’s comment:

Which project would have the greater benefit for the greater good of the community. Protect 310 acres of wilderness, or provide 160 highly paid staffers with shiny new digs??

I know what city council and city staff have already said, so the question is addressed to the rest of Nanaimo residents.

To learn about this area, check out the page “Saving Linley Valley West”

Mid Island News

Come and share your ideas about the future of Moorecroft Regional Park at the first public open house on Saturday October 22, 2011 from 12 pm – 4 pm at Kennedy Lodge in the park.

You can also fill out an online survey.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) has retained O2 Planning and Design to help with a 10 year management plan, which is scheduled to be complete in November 2012.

At this stage, the goal is to identify issues and opportunities that the plan needs to address and to inform the development of a draft:

• Vision
• Management Goals, and
• Management scenarios for the park

The 34 hectare Moorecroft site includes close to 1 km of beach and spectacular views across the Georgia Strait. There are approximately 32 hectares of natural forest featuring tree species such as Western Red Cedar, Douglas-fir, Arbutus, Bigleaf Maple, Red Alder and Garry Oak. Two intermittent creeks run through the property, and two eagle nesting sites have been identified. The property also contains a wetland area known as Skipsey Lake, a play field and a network of trails.

The Nature Trust of BC is still accepting donations to purchase this park.

Mid Island News

Parksville has a free curbside wood chipping program.  The City’s wood chipping program will take place this fall from October 12 – 28, 2011 weekdays, between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm.

Please note the follow instructions:

1. Branches with a maximum diameter of 6 inches (15 cm), stacked with the larger end of the branch or trunk facing the roadway
2. Woody shrub material, piled for ease of access by the chipping crew
3. Pampas grass and clematis and wisteria vines cannot be chipped. These, along with other vegetation, garden debris, leaves, and grass clippings must be taken to the Church Road Transfer Station. Piles containing the aforementioned items will not be removed by the chipping crew.
4. Piles must be limited to a size of 5 feet wide by 3 feet high, and only one pile per residence will be removed by the chipping crew.

To find out the pick up days, go to the City of Parksville website on the blogroll.

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Mid Island News

Ron Coupal of Nanaimo has found the solution to local pollution and guess what? He needs your to help.  Ron has started a website called www.nanaimogreenpatrol.com and needs people to take action in their own local neighbourhoods to start picking up litter.

If you need ideas on how to get the right tools, like a “grabber,” to make picking up litter around your area easier, drop Ron a note at his site.  Also, if you need some inspiration on what you can do with the garage you pick up on the beach check out artist A.H. Pozzi and her “Washed Ashore” garbage project from the Oregon Coast and her massive sculptures using plastic and other debris that were collected from the beaches.

Mid Island News

Cones are a treat for me! Red Breasted Nut Hatch in Parksville

Ralph had the timing just right to catch this Red Breasted Nuthatch in Parksville helping himself to a seed while going down the tree head first!  Did you know that the nuthatches smear conifer sap around their nest holes to deter predators?

Mid Island News

I always wear my black cap! Wilson's Warbler in Parksville

Ralph was fast enough to catch up to this Wilson’s Warbler you can just see his black cap.   This vibrant yellow bird is amazing. It is as if you were in a tropical jungle!  Also, the warblers eat lots of bugs, a good friend for your garden.  

Photography Courtesy of Ralph Hocken.

Mid Island News

A neighbourhoood group call the ‘Moorecrofters’ are helping The Nature Trust of BC, a non-profit organization, raise $500,000 towards the purchase of the former United Church Moorecroft Camp which was recently purchased by the Regional District of Nanaimo. This valuable 85acre oceanfront property is now knows as MOORECROFT REGIONAL PARK!!

HOW MUCH DID IT COST TO ACQUIRE MOORECROFT REGIONAL PARK?
$4.8million – Purchase Price
$7.95million – List price for property in Sept2010
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE NATURE TRUST OF BC?
As outlined in the purchase agreement with the RDN, the Nature Trust of BC is now fundraising to contribute up to $500,000 of the purchase price.

GIVE A GIFT TO MOORECROFT
Help the Nature Trust of BC raise $500,000 towards the purchase of Moorecroft and restoration of facilities and nature trails.

You can donate HERE or phone 1-866-288-7878
Send cheque to
The Nature Trust of BC
260-1000 Roosevelt Crescent
North Vancouver, BC V7P 3R4

Tax receipts will be issued for all donations!  Join the “Moorecrofters” in the opening of
Moorecroft Regional Park,  June 18, 1 to 3pm, Hosted by the Regional District of Nanaimo.

Mid Island News

Head to the Nanaimo harbourfront this Saturday, June 4th at 10:30am to see the start of the Van Isle 360 yacht race.  Over 40 competitors  will  race around Vancouver Island in two weeks, a distance of 580 nautical miles.

Along the way, sailors will face certain hardships and unpredictable weather in such areas as Brooks Peninsula and Nahwitti Bar. In the 2001 race, the Tofino Coast Guard alerted a Polish factory ship who picked up the crew from the capsized “3D.”

In previous races, race organizers spent several anxious hours waiting for radio check-ins from yachts that could not be reached.   This year, each boat has been given a transponder that will beam up the exact location via satellite.   

Telus is this year’s sponsor and they have a very detailed website of the route, competitors and even past videos.  Let’s hope that everyone has a safe and enjoyable race.

Mid Island News