The City of Owen Sound says the forested area at St. George’s Park will be undergoing restoration work this week.
The area on the northeast side of the 10th Street and 4th Avenue East intersection will be subject to this restoration work.
This follows after in July of 2021, the city started a forest restoration project in this 2.9 acre area of escarpment ravine between Victoria Park and St. George’s Park.
The project featured in the Victoria Park Master Plan, includes how the site would benefit from removing invasive species, like dead and diseased ash trees caused by the Emerald Ash Borer.
Phase one of the project included the completion of a basic forest inventory and marking ash trees for removal, treatment of invasive ivy with herbicide, and removing invasive tree species. This phase was completed in the fall of 2021.
Phase two focuses on the removal of 134 dead and diseased ash trees. The work will begin on March 28, with an estimated completion date of April 1.
Phase three will then feature secondary treatment of invasive plant species and planting of native trees, shrubs, and plants throughout the selected forest area, which is expected to take place later this year.
Such plants include white pine, hemlock, sugar maple, leatherwood, elderberry, and trilliums.
The city says this multi-step action plan will improve the long-term health and quality of the forested area.
“Thinning of the trial area focuses on reducing the proportion of ash species in the area, and will ensure that the forest is healthy and maintained for future generations to enjoy,” says the city.