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Urban paradise preserved

Group works to ensure Wildwood Park's forest survives

By: Erin Madden / Volunteers

Posted: 05/14/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 05/15/2012 9:40 AM | Updates

Allan Barry (left) and Hugh Penwarden of the Wildwood Heritage and Conservation Committee discuss plans for their beloved urban forest. (JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

It's one of the most distinct communities in Winnipeg. Wildwood Park, where homes have no front streets -- just back lanes. Instead of roads, green space separates front yards, part of the river-bottom forest that blankets the area.

Many of the 400 families who call the area home have spent decades there. Others lived there as kids and returned as adults. A love of nature and the outdoors calls them to the area. Like many urban forests though, sustainability and conservation are key and members of the suburban community are doing what they can to ensure the community's trees and landscape remain for future generations to enjoy. Twelve years ago, community members came together to form the Wildwood Heritage and Conservation Committee.

"Wildwood is a teeny bit unique in a sense that we're sitting within a forest," said committee member Hugh Penwarden. "I grew up here and appreciated this ambience of living in a forest, but it was pointed out that the forest needed some succession planting to occur. It deserved protection and it was also badly in need of rejuvenation."

The group plans and executes tree plantings and other major projects in the neighbourhood, such as returning the land to natural prairie habitats. Working with the City of Winnipeg's naturalist, they are careful to only plant trees and shrubs native to the local area and to rid the area of invasive species. All the activities are carried out only after extensive consultation with the community.

"We surveyed the community and asked them what they wanted to do and they agreed that they were mostly interested in naturalization. What that means is we weren't interested in planting anything that wasn't natural to this exact location," explained Penwarden, who spent 30 years working as the head gardener in Riding Mountain National Park before retiring four years ago.

Environmental grants generate most of the money for the projects they undertake. Penwarden adds that in the 12 years since the Wildwood Heritage and Conservation Committee was established, more than 2,500 new trees and shrubs have been planted, in addition to the development of a .4-hectare meadow along the riverbank.

"Over time, nature is just going to take its course here. This is actually creating habitat. Actual forest is going to occur here," explained Penwarden.

Fellow volunteer and committee member Allan Barry also grew up in Wildwood, returning as an adult to raise his own family there. He said the community is very supportive of the group's work to conserve and protect the neighbourhood's natural surroundings. Hundreds of people have come out to help with tree-planting days and many others have voiced their support.

"People love it," said Barry, who by days works in IT. "All the feedback I've ever gotten has been positive and some of it extremely positive. Some people have stopped me and just said 'thank you.' Who doesn't like trees?"

He adds it's great to see so many families -- particularly those with young children -- participating in community planting days. He said he enjoys seeing the children learn the importance of protecting natural habitats.

"It's not for us," he said. "It will be our grandchildren's children who will actually benefit."

If you know a special volunteer who strives to make their community a better place to live, please contact Erin Madden at erinmadden@shaw.ca .

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 14, 2012 B2

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Updated on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 9:40 AM CDT: amends lede paragraph

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