Do you have a favourite tree?
One that has caught your eye because of its exceptional size or looks, or because it has a unique story attached to it?
Now is your chance to share your tree with others in the city’s very first Character Tree Contest.
Contestants will be asked to place their tree in a category – examples of categories are Tallest tree, Historic tree or Wildlife tree, and provide two photos of the tree, a description and location.
The tree must be within Campbell River city limits. A character tree can be defined as ‘a notable specimen because of its size, form, shape, beauty, age, colour, rarity or genetic constitution.’
The purpose of the contest is to foster an appreciation of the trees around us, and to involve the community in creating an inventory of significant and unique trees located in Campbell River.
To launch the contest, the Museum at Campbell River will be presenting a talk with writer Harold Macy of Merville on Saturday, March 17, at 1:30 p..m. Macy’s talk will be based on his recent book The Four Storey Forest – a book that is part memoir and part arboreal adventure, and focuses on the woodlot on his property that burned down, then regenerated.
Macy’s reverence for the forest is evident from his observation that “for whatever reasons, when in the forest we are coaxed to let down our defences, allowing something ineffably divine to penetrate deep into our hearts.”
The nomination period for the contest is from March through to the end of September, and prizes will be presented on Rivers Day, Sept. 29 at the Haig-Brown Festival. Contest forms and details are available in the offices and on the websites of the contest’s sponsors: Greenways Land Trust, the City of Campbell River, the Museum at Campbell River and the Courier Islander, and will also appear in the Courier Islander newspaper.
Local businesses as well as contest sponsors are donating the prizes.
For sponsorship information contact Greenways Land Trust operations manager Stacey Larsen, at 250-287-3785.
For information regarding Harold Macy’s talk or to register, contact the Museum at 250-287-3103.
