The weather could not have been more favourable for a tree planting work party on Saturday, April 18 at The Nature Trust of BC’s Cowichan Estuary Conservation area in Cowichan Bay. The warmth of the bright sun eased any sore backs and aching joints from planting 28 trees as a hedgerow restoration project adjacent to the wetlands on Dinsdale Farm.
The assortment of Douglas fir, crabapple, hawthorne, dogwood, and red flowering currant were planted to honour the service of two volunteer board members of The Nature Trust of BC, Rod Silver and Stewart Muir, who are leaving after many years of distinguished service.
Silver and Muir did not get to rest on their laurels, nor their shovels! They pitched right in and did much of the planting themselves. Muir brought his father Jim Muir along for the work (pictured above) and Silver brought his wife Wendy and one son, Matt, who all gamely helped out.
Also in on the exercise were The Nature Trust’s Steve Housser, Tom Reid, Steve Godfrey and CEO Dr. Jasper Lament. Lament praised the contributions and connections that Muir and Silver both brought to the board.
In addition to the hedgerow plantings, eight brand new and very attractive bird houses — or “Bird Hotels†were installed.