More trees for Riverlot 56
St. Albert students planted hundreds of trees last week to give birds and beasts some privacy in Riverlot 56.
Student volunteers from Bellerose Composite and W.D. Cuts planted some 550 trees and shrubs in Riverlot 56 last June 1 and June 5.
The plantings were organized by Bellerose Grade 10 student Cole Van Wyk in partnership with the Riverlot 56 Natural Area Society and with the support of a $2,662 Environmental Initiatives grant from the City of St. Albert.
Van Wyk rallied volunteers to plant some 325 trees in the lower part of the river lot back in 2021.
“It was such a phenomenal experience,” he said in an interview last week, one which let him appreciate the details of the forest and connected him to it in a new way.
“As soon as I finished planting last year, I was just like, ‘What’s next?’”
Riverlot 56 society member Dan Stoker said Wyk and his team chose to place this year’s trees in the large field in the upper part of the river lot along Poundmaker Road. The society had held off on putting trees here before, as it was drier and less hospitable for trees, but green-lit the plantings in light of Van Wyk’s funding and enthusiasm.
“He’s on a bit of a mission,” Stoker said of Van Wyk, adding that he admired his positivity and confidence.
Stoker said this particular field had been used for agriculture for many years and was sometimes crossed by animals. This line of trees would give animals more cover as they moved through the area and accelerate the forest’s expansion — it would likely take centuries for the forest to move into this clearing on its own.
Van Wyk said volunteers planted spruce, aspen, dogwood, wild rose, and raspberry in six close-spaced patches along the fence-line. Providing entertainment was an RCMP helicopter, which was doing take-offs and manoeuvres in and around the river lot for much of Wednesday’s plantings.
Van Wyk said he hoped to do more plantings in the river lot and looked forward to seeing how these trees turned out in a few decades.
Free tune-ups for Clean Air Day
St. Albert cyclists can get free tune-ups this month as they help keep pollution out of the air.
June is Bike Month in St. Albert, and June 8 is Clean Air Day. To celebrate both, the City of St. Albert is offering free bike tune-ups behind St. Albert Place on June 8, 10, and 21.
A bike is a great alternative to a car, especially when it comes to short trips, said city environment manager Meghan Myers. Cycling produces zero net carbon emissions (unless you’re using an electric bike) and no air pollution.
Performing the free tune-ups will be John Younie of Youniecycles Bicycle Maintenance.
Younie, who bikes to work from St. Albert to Edmonton, said cycling has become much more popular in St. Albert during the pandemic. Unlike the last two years, where supply shortages made bikes exceedingly tough to find, most bike shops seem to have plenty of stock this season, with electric bikes offering newcomers an easy way to get into the hobby.
Younie said some of the most common problems cyclists may encounter with their bikes involve the brake and transmission cables, both of which can stretch and need adjustment. Riders should keep their bike chains lubricated and tires properly pressurised for the best cycling experience.
Younie and his crew will be providing tune-ups behind St. Albert Place from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. on June 8 and 21 and from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on June 10. Visit stalbert.ca/city/environment/programs-events/bike-month for details.
