Celebrating the Champlain Oaks
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Transcript of Celebrating the Champlain Oaks
Celebrating the
Champlain Oaks
A Heritage Forest
The Champlain Oaks Project, Daniel Buckles March 3, 2011
Champlain Park – A Treed CommunityLocation - Champlain Park
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A Living Link to the Era of Samuel de Champlain
• Oldest examples of native bur oaks in Ottawa (50 years older than the oldest at the Arboretum)
• Saplings from an oak forest standing in 1879
• Part of the oak forest referenced in 1686 by Pierre de Troyes, a captain in the French army (while portaging around the Des Chênes Rapids)
A Heritage Character Defining Element for
Champlain Park
• Prominent structures yet nameless (till now)
• Gnarly, cantankerous giants tolerated and protected
24 Preconfederation individuals
• 0.8 to 1.2 metre diameter trees
• Tall (20 meters)
• Estimated age 150-180 years
• Riparine and savannah native species on the northern edge of its range in Eastern Canada
Older than any others in Ottawa
Oldest specimen at Arboretum - 1897
Older than specimens of bur oak on NCC land
Undeveloped land between Ottawa and Skead’s Sawmill 1879
A living link to naming of the Des Chênes Rapids
“Then I returned to the oak portage, so called because of the number of these trees which are in the area, which is about a league and a half from the plunge of the Chaudière Falls. I climbed the many rapids which are encountered between the two on this road, and made the portage which is at nearly a league from that of the Chaudière, which is a quarter of a league as long as that of the oaks.” Pierre de Troyes, 1686
A Heritage Character Defining Element in
Champlain Park
Cottages and Residences between tunney’s
pasture and Island Park
A Heritage Character Defining Element in Champlain Park
A Champlain Oak shows its power (sorry garage!)
Prominent and hidden
Public and Private
Loved and Protected
Threatened and Neglected
A Heritage Forest?
• Historical Value: a living link to early French explorers
• Cultural Value: a heritage character defining element of Champlain Park
• Design Value: an unmatched plant genetic resource in the heart of Ottawa
Policy Supports
• Ontario Heritage Act Part IV allows several avenues for designation of a group of heritage trees, Part II for a conservation easement agreement held by the Ontario Heritage Trust
• Provincial Planning Statement (2005) policies enacted under the Planning Act speak to preserving cultural heritage landscapes
• Ottawa Official Plan policies seek to preserve natural features and the character of neighbourhoods
Action• Undertake the Statement of significance for the
group of pre-confederation bur oak trees in Champlain Park (approximately 24 trees 80 cm diameter and greater)
• Focus on willing landowners and land on which most of the trees are located
• Seek designation of the group of trees as a “heritage forest” under Part IV, Section 37, 34.5, 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act
• Seek designation of a Heritage Conservation District under Part V, Section 40 of the Ontario Heritage Act
Thank you!