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A woman in a teal hoodie stands beside massive bigleaf maple with octopus-like branches at Royal Roads.

Sat. Aug 27: Nature Walk and Fundraiser at GREATER VICTORIA’S FINEST ANCIENT FOREST

Aug 18 2011/in Announcements

Nature Walk and Fundraiser with Victoria Natural History Society president Darren Copley and Royal BC Museum curator and entomologist Claudia Copley, and with the Ancient Forest Alliance’s Ken Wu and TJ Watt through the Spectacular ROYAL ROADS ANCIENT FOREST

Date: SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
Time: 1:00-3:00 pm
Donation Range: $15 to $100

Difficulty Level: EASY-MODERATE

Dogs must be leashed at all times.

Did you know that one of the most spectacular old-growth forests on Earth is at Royal Roads University by Victoria? We often seek grandeur far away from where we live – but the ancient forests of Royal Roads are among the most magnificent in existence, one of the largest tracts left within the extremely endangered Coastal Douglas Fir ecosystem (only 1% of this ecosystem remains as old-growth). Surprisingly, while many people have visited the Hatley Castle (where X-Men was filmed) few people have actually hiked through the incredible ancient forests around the university.

Join president of the Victoria Natural History Society Darren Copley (and former Goldstream Nature Centre chief interpreter) and Royal BC Museum curator, entomologist and naturalist Claudia Copley to learn about the tremendous diversity of plants, birds, trees, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, insects, and other creatures living in this incredible ancient forest. The Ancient Forest Alliance’s Ken Wu and TJ Watt will speak about the Ancient Forest Alliance’s campaign to protect the remaining endangered forests in BC.

We will walk through spectacular ancient redcedars, grand firs and Douglas firs, including visiting the 2nd largest Douglas fir tree in Greater Victoria (10 feet wide!), see some mind-blowing huge bigleaf maples and an enormous forked yew tree, and be done by 3:00 pm. You will not be disappointed!

***This event is a fundraiser for the Ancient Forest Alliance which is in need of funding to continue its vital campaigns to protect BC’s ancient forests and forestry jobs. Bring friends and family!

If possible, please email us at info@ancientforestalliance.org so we can get a sense of our numbers.

Sun. Aug 28: LOWER MAINLAND Ancient Forest WALK and FUNDRAISER in Manning Park’s Magnificent SUMALLO GROVE

Aug 17 2011/in Announcements

Date: Sunday, August 28th
Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
Donation range: $20 to $100

Location: Meet at 1:30 at the Sumallo Grove parking lot and picnic area, which is also the beginning for the Skagit Valley Trail.

Park Map: https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/ecmanning/manning.pdf (note: it’s about 2 hour drive from Vancouver)

Park website: https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/ecmanning/#Location

Difficulty Level: EASY

Dogs must be leashed at all times.

Join Ancient Forest Alliance campaigners Ken Wu and TJ Watt and lichenologist Stu Crawford (tentative) on an easy nature walk and talk through one of the most incredible old-growth forests left in the Lower Mainland, the Sumallo Grove in Manning Provincial Park.

This grove is one of the most diverse ancient forests in the province, with Sitka spruce mixed in with Douglas firs and giant redcedars, and is in the Cascade Mountain Range which barely comes into Canada from the US. The Sumallo Grove is traditionally home to the endangered spotted owl (recently disappeared, as only 5 individuals now remain in BC’s wilds due to old-growth logging), as well as wolves, grizzlies, black bears, cougars, wolverine, elk, moose, deer, and a strange little rodent called a “mountain beaver”.

Learn about the ecology and the politics of the Ancient Forest Alliance’s campaign to protect the last ancient forests around the Lower Mainland and what you can do to help.

This area is also the start of the Skagit Valley Trail through Skagit Valley Provincial Park – a couple hours along the trail brings you to another phenomenal stand of giant Douglas firs and redcedars, and further still is an ecological reserve filled with rare, huge black cottonwoods! Hiking this trail is not part of this particular event, but more adventurous enthusiasts may want to hike it after our guided walk in Sumallo Grove.

Guest presenter bios:

Stu Crawford is an ecological consultant and one of the handful of lichenologists in BC. He received his masters degree in biology studying under ethnobotanist Dr. Nancy Turner at the University of Victoria on First Nations consumption and use of lichens (yes, you can eat some lichens! learn more on the hike…).

TJ Watt and Ken Wu are co-founders of the Ancient Forest Alliance. TJ Watt graduated from the Western Academy of Photography and Ken Wu from UBC’s Biological Sciences program specializing in Ecology.

***This event is a fundraiser for the Ancient Forest Alliance which is in need of funding to continue its vital campaigns to protect BC’s ancient forests and forestry jobs.

If you can, please email us at info@ancientforestalliance.org to let us know how many of you are coming so we can get a sense of our numbers.

2011 Tall Tree Music Festival - Port Renfrew

THANK YOU to the Tall Trees Society for their generous donation!

Aug 16 2011/in Thank You

The Ancient Forest Alliance would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to everyone at Radio Contact Productions and the Tall Trees Society for organizing the 2nd annual Tall Tree Music Festival in Port Renfrew and donating a generous portion of the proceeds to the AFA. Your much appreciated support helps us continue our work to protect BC’s endangered old-growth forests and promote incredible areas such as the Avatar Grove.

A thanks goes out as well, to all the volunteers, the event sponsors, the amazing musicians and DJ’s, and those who came and had an awesome time!

When visiting Port Renfrew, be sure to stop by the new Tourist Information Centre on the right side of the road in town and pick up the new Tall Tree Tour map which has directions to the biggest and best trees nearby!

Also, always make sure to support the local businesses in town while you’re there! For a list of places to eat, sleep and more, visit the online directory here: https://www.portrenfrewcommunity.com/

See you all next year!