Humber green space may be dangerous
After an unusually cold winter, the Humber Arboretum may not yet be safe to the public.
The ice storm in December 2013 and a prolonged snow cover have made it difficult for the property’s staff to start a clean up.
Robert Gray, a horticultural technician with the Arboretum, said that even months after the ice storm, there was still a risk of falling branches.
“(In the summer) I think it will be safe along the pathways and trails… But the interior of the woodlot still could have some dangerous spots to it.”
He said that just like any other green space in Toronto, the staff has posted signs to warn guests of any risks.
Humber’s Arboretum is a forested nature reserve found on the North Campus of Humber College.
For fifth-year psychology student Amanda Howlett, being near nature is definitely an added benefit to being enrolled at the University of Guelph-Humber.
“You’re able to look out and actually see some trees, as opposed to the usual lack of landscape that’s around Toronto,” said Howlett, “It’s nice to be able to look out and see nature.”
Heather Somers, the senior horticultural technician for the Arboretum, said that it may take up to 20 years before the Arboretum is fully restored.
“It’s not like you can just hammer a new branch on…(Plants) have to be restored as far as cutting damaged limbs, pruning for good shape again, and then the time it takes for the plant to grow,” said Somers.
Gray said Humber College’s arboriculture students and City of Toronto staff are doing as much as they can.
He said Arborists are just waiting for the snow to melt. Staff has already been working since January, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
He said sometimes workers have to climb the trees to get to broken branches, some of which are more than 60 feet high. This can be a timely process when dealing with a forest.
“This isn’t the type of thing that… is a quick fix,” said Gray.
He also said that with Toronto’s abnormal temperature, it’s hard to know when the Arboretum will be ready for visitors.
“Once the weather starts to co-operate and we get some seasonal temperatures then the clean up is going to get done,” said Gray.
The extent of the damage goes beyond the trees. The impact can be seen across the Arboretum’s ecosystem of over 1,700 species of plants and animals.
“It’s all connected, nothing is in isolation,” said Somers.
Somers explained that many trees sprout flowers, but those that blossom early may struggle due to the abnormally cold weather.
Pollinators, like bees and butterflies, will take a hit because they will not be able to use the flowers to produce nectar.
Animals may also see an effect. A longer winter means less plant life in the Arboretum, which will mean less food for species like the Arboretum’s deer population.
Somers said that the food shortage might mean a decrease in the newborn animal population. She said this is just nature’s way of preserving the balance and preventing over population.
“Animals have a tendency to regulate themselves,” said Somers “if it’s been a bad year and there’s not a lot of food, they’re not going to raise a lot of young… if it’s a really good year, they’ll have a lot.”
Though most of the work cannot start yet, staff has already started as much as possible.
Somers said that in some cases damaged trees have had to be removed, which also gives the opportunity for new ones to grow.
She said the large amount of trees that have been removed have allowed Arborists to reintroduce some native trees that had been logged out by settlers.
“This gives us the opportunity to plant new ones and bring back some of the original species of plants,” said Somers.
But Somers also allows nature to run its course.
“When a tree, or a large part of a tree breaks off, all of a sudden, some new light comes into that space,” said Somers “There are seeds that might have been waiting there for 50 years, waiting for light. And out pops a new tree.”
About the Author
Andreas Pandikiu is a journalism student at the University of Guelph-Humber whose hero is Hunter S. Thompson, and in whose psychedelic path he would like to follow. "Panda" has experience in freelance writing and broadcasting, and aims to write the news in a way perfectly befitting his title; black and white, straight to the point. So tune in to Panda on Radix: word is bond.
Related Posts
Irregular temperatures not so out of the ordinary →
Humber students celebrate nature, come together for Urban Sugar Shack →
Toronto officer not done with school just yet →
