2009 Annual General Meeting What's New?

For the Settlement Lands we will be preparing Management Plans during the forthcoming year. We will be asking for your input. The Central Park Management Plan is well along and the Plan will soon be out for discussion.

BC Gaming Commission grant

For the year 2008 - 2009 DCA applied for and has received funds as a Direct Access Grant for operating expenses from the BC Gaming Commission. This grant enables DCA to employ a part-time Land Manager without drawing heavily on donated funds.

There are very few other granting agencies that will support non-profit organizations by supplying operating funds on a continuing basis. However the Board of DCA was not unanimous in agreeing to accept this grant. Members of the Board recognized that the Gaming Commission derives its funds from lotteries and other gambling operations in the Province, and the Board was uncertain whether the membership would be comfortable with this particular source of funding.

While this year's grant is being spent, the Board is inviting members to offer their views at the AGM (or by contacting any director) as to whether DCA should apply again this year for a continuation of the funding.

DCA's New Web Page address

In mid 2008 DCA changed its web page address to www.denmanconservancy.org
See also the DCA Blog with its fairly frequent updates at http://denmanconservancy.blogspot.com for photos and notes about Nature on Denman Island. Residents are invited to join this blog and post their own observations.

Closure

It has been a long haul for the dedicated members of the Legal Committee since DCA filed a Writ of Summons and a Statement of Claim in the Supreme Court of British Columbia on June 25, 2002.

And, it was longer for some of those members who in 1997 began assisting 4064 Investments Ltd. to fulfill its contractual obligations to place covenants on the Railway Marsh and Komas Bluffs, obligations which were not completed by 4064, resulting in the legal case. The entire case history can be read on the DCA web site: www.denmanconservancy.org

DCA's Rare Meadow Species: Stewardship Program

Our endangered "flagship species", Taylor's Checkerspot (C'Spots) will soon be flying again. Once again, we hope to see this bright and energetic checkered butterfly that we’ve come to think of as abundant on Denman! DCA biologists, Jenny Balke and Andrew Fyson, recently presented 2008’s findings at the Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team’s Research Colloquium in Victoria. Although last summer was generally found to be a poor year for butterflies throughout the region, on Denman, we observed successful egg-laying and early larval foraging on speedwells, so we are hoping that our C’Spots have managed to survive.

As our once common species become ever rarer, the DCA will continue to support and recognize stewards who are providing some habitat space for these remarkable species. Thank you stewards!!

Other Rare Meadow Species:

Woodland meadow's
Common Wood Nymph
Cercyonis pegala incana

Domestic Animals On Conservation Lands

DCA is aware that many people enjoy walking their dogs on the public trails in Central Park and also on trails in other conservation lands such as the Morrison Marsh and Lindsay Dickson Nature Reserves. For many Denman residents these are very long established activities. The owner of these Nature Reserves (and Inner Island N.R.) is the Islands Trust Fund (ITF). DCA manages these lands under contract to ITF.

In negotiating the Management Plan with ITF the question of animals in the Nature Reserves had to be addressed. ITF normally insists on ‘dogs on a leash’ rules for their properties but for Denman they agreed to ‘dogs under control’ by their owners. Horses are not permitted on Nature Reserves. When dogs are allowed to run, not under control of their owners, both people passing by and the native wildlife may be threatened or endangered.

Some reports were received in the past year of dogs not being under control in lands under management by DCA. Dog owners should be aware that too many such incidents will likely result in more limitations being placed on the freedom of the public to enjoy these properties. Persons encountering dogs not under control on DCA managed lands are requested to report the incident to our Land Manager Andrew Fyson (335 9047) or to any Director of DCA.

There are some locations in the Nature Reserves, Central Park and the Railway Grade Marsh where waterfowl nesting may be jeopardised by disturbance. DCA will be monitoring these locations and may find it necessary to impose site-specific seasonal restrictions on public access.

As noted above horses are not permitted in Nature Reserves, but DCA is accommodating riding horses on specific trails in Central Park. The existing trail through Central Park to Pickles Road transits the Inner Island Nature Reserve. DCA would like to upgrade this trail to allow horses on this route. In order to meet ITF’s ‘no horses’ rule the section through Inner Island Reserve has to be relocated to stay within the Crown Land until it exits on to Pickles Road. A possible relocation route has been flagged.

Central Park

Recent sunny weather has been great for taking walks. We're encouraged to see that Central Park is being used by walkers, bicyclists and equestrians. This winter the Central Park Committee spent many an evening together to work on the Management Plan for Central Park. They are happy to report that it is nearly complete and look forward to sharing it with the public. The plan provides short and long term guidance for managing public use of the park, reflecting the expressed wishes of the community, while protecting its environmental attributes.
Last fall Steve Isaak started work on the northern section of Pickles Road Trail. Alas the rains prevailed and the job could not be completed We will get back to this work as soon as conditions permit, but we ask for your patience in the meantime for your safety as well as to prevent ecological damage by keeping horses and bikes off this part of the trail and walking through only when safe to do so.
Shortly the call will go out to volunteers to help with trail improvements and cleanup. As well we will construct a boardwalk across Central Swale. The water level did not drop there last summer as it had in the past so we need to re-engineer our design to complete this project funded by a grant from Mountain Equipment Co-Op. If you want to lend a hand sometime give us a call. (Annie 2762 or Denise 1608). In the meanwhile, go enjoy yourself by taking a jaunt through Central Park.

Walks and Talks

Arranged by Patrick Fawkes

Our spring season begins with the talk by John Tayless on March 7: Spring Plankton & Herring

Upcoming:

• March 14 Gulls & Other Water birds by Mike Morrell Old School 10.30 am
• March 28 Bird Houses by Peter Karsten
• April: Tree Island Walk with Andrew Fyson

In May will be ‘Birds and their Songs’ with Jenny Balke and Patrick Fawkes

Watch for notice of details in the Grapevine.

Membership

DCA now has 280 paid up members, a new high for us! People on island and off have been generous. In our annual appeal for funds donors of $10.00 or more received a tax receipt and also a membership. Thank you all so much.

West Coast Environmental Law

Along with the original Newsletter distributed in the Grapevine, you will have received an appeal for your support from West Coast Environmental Law (WCEL). DCA received invaluable financial assistance from the Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund of WCEL throughout the legal case against 4064 Investments that was finally resolved in 2005. Beyond directly assisting DCA, the work of WCEL is held in highest esteem in the Province.

DCA asks that Denman supporters, who are able to do so, seriously consider contributing to WCEL. DCA has adopted this method of assisting WCEL with their appeal because DCA will not provide its own membership information to any other party, however deserving.

Contributors to this Newsletter: Jenny, John, Patrick, Carol, Patti, Annie.

Newsletter, April 2009

Andrew Fyson, Land Manager

Andrew's contract as DCA Land Manager has been renewed for another year. Inspired by his father’s love of nature, Andrew studied botany at Oxford and earned a PhD at the University of Dundee. After years of experience in biological research and teaching in Canada, Germany, and the U.K, he moved to Denman Island in 2005 to start something very different. His first love is nature and understanding how organisms live together and with their environment (ecology). Through the DCA, Andrew has been able to help protect our precious island ecosystems and also to spread enthusiasm for nature by outreach activities.

Recently Andrew asked John Isbister to use his backhoe to block vehicle access to an old logging road on the Settlement Lands. John generously donated his (and his machine’s) time for this vital service. Thank you John.

Taylor's Checkerspot by Peter Karsten

DCA's Rare Meadow Species Stewardship Program

The owners of eleven properties on Denman Island totalling over 1000 acres have signed pledges to steward our rare meadow species.

Checkerspots will be flying again from early May to mid-June. The earliest sighting in 2008 was 8 May.

Please report your sightings to:

Jenny Balke 250-335-2151 or

Andrew Fyson 250-335-9047

Our Classic Home & Garden Tour; May 9 & 10

The excitement is palpable. Requests for tickets came before they were even printed and have been selling at a good pace. The home/garden owners are pouring heart, soul and sweat into preparations for over 1,000 visitors. Hats off to Jimmy Tait, Mikell and Toby Callahan, Jean Cockburn and Jack Mounce, Judy and Gale Stephen, Yoshi and Susan-Marie Yoshihara, Andrew Fyson and Robert Newton, Daniel Terry, Linda and John Mather, Veronica Timmons, John Tallerino and Marc Randall.

The first stop on the Tour is our Community Hall where Denman Seniors and Museum Society are transforming the Back Hall into an English-style pub, licensed! They'll feature a ploughman's lunch with vegan option and beer--something for everyone from 11 am to 3 pm. Denman Island Emergency Services will be behind the dessert table with luscious sweets, coffee and tea. Dessert donations may be dropped off at the Hall either morning.

In further readiness for the big weekend a workbee will be held at John Tallerino and Marc Randall's, 4920-B Lacon Road, Saturday, May 2 at 10:30 a.m. The guys need help moving some piles, strong bodies and wheelbarrows welcome.

The other date to note is Wednesday, May 6 when Jimmy Tait requests all kind souls who potted up plants for the sale to deliver those plants to her home. If you are unable to deliver Deryn Buchan (phone is 335-0754) has graciously offered to pick up your plant donations. It would be most helpful if you tag your plants with their name, Latin or otherwise. Jimmy also requests donations of black plastic trays that could carry several plants. Many thanks for your generosity.

Tickets are available at: Abraxas Books, Denman Craft Shop and Denman General Store, still for the remarkable price of $15.00. We've been advised that other Tours' tickets go for between $20 and $30. Whether you are part of the 150+ volunteer team or attending the Tour, Mothers Day weekend promises to be a fabulous time of community activity.

Directors for 2009

Stacey Armstrong - Secretary
Annie Corddry
David Critchley
John Dillon
Patrick Fawkes
Carol Freeman
David Freeman - Treasurer
DD Fuchs
Denise MacKean
John Millen – Co-chair
J Thornton – Co-chair
Susan-Marie Yoshihara

Walks and Talks

The next nature walk in our series will be Birdsongs with Jenny Balke and Patrick Fawkes on May 9, from 9 to 11am; meet at the Denman Old School.

On May 16, Hamish Kimmins will lead a walk entitled Teenage Forests to show us what is happening in the forest and how it will mature.

There will be a Medicinal Plant walk with Sheelagh Mackenzie , and a Low Tide walk with John Tayless in June.

We will also have guided walks in the Settlement Lands, Lindsay Dickson, Morrison Marsh, and Central Park. Please watch the Grapevine for dates of these events.

Cemetery Extension?

The DCA Board has agreed to open discussions about providing Central Park land at the corner of Denman and North Central Road for an extension of the existing cemetery that is just across the road. Louise Bell has investigated the steps needed to achieve the required rezoning and certification for cemetery purposes. The Board is very interested in the possibility of 'Green Burials'.

Looking at the length of Louise's list of "steps needed" we are all just hoping to still be alive to see the end of the process!

Conservancy at the Saturday Market

Opening Day is May 16. Come to say hello, update your membership or buy a T-shirt for your summer wardrobe.

See you there Saturday May 16th.

More than Usual at the AGM

The AGM was held on Monday 23 March. A special treat for members was the photo presentation by Jenny Balke and Andrew Fyson. Andrew's close-up photos of the Checkerspot butterfly laying eggs were breathtaking.

As well as the usual reports and elections, DCA had two discussion topics on the Agenda.>

First was the question of applying for renewal of the Direct Access Grant that DCA has received from the BC Gaming Commission. The debate was on the moral peril of accepting money raised by such dubious means. Some felt that funds raised from gambling should not be accepted as the result was to encourage the government in its promotion of gambling. Others believed that the DCA could put the funds to good use and it was little different from any other government money. A close vote gave a small majority in support of applying for renewal of the grant.

The second discussion arose from the completion of the Agreement to settle the Legal Case reported in our February Newsletter. Some members have felt that the Board has not been sufficiently supportive of the endeavours by Northlands to establish large areas of conservation land on their property at the North end of the Island. The Board has now agreed to hold discussions with Northlands representatives once the details of their latest proposal for rezoning of their land have been made public. A substantial majority of the members at the AGM supported the Board's position.

Horse Trail

As mentioned in our February Newsletter DCA wanted to have the trail from Pickles Road to Central Park open to horses. The problem was that the trail crossed Inner Island Nature Reserve where horses are not permitted, by the policy of the owner, Island Trust Fund.

The enthusiastic members of the newly formed Island Equines horse club turned out on a very rainy Saturday recently to clear the new trail, that mostly follows a section of old Logging Railway grade.

Northwest Salamander by Peter Karsten

Contributors to this Newsletter: Carol, Jenny, John, Patrick, LeeAndra, Andrew.

Newsletter, October 2009

Central Park Update

Thanks to a generous grant from Mountain Equipment Coop to assist with trail development and the construction of a boardwalk in Central Park AND to the great efforts by many volunteers we are happy to tell you that there is now a boardwalk crossing Central Swale linking Swale Trail with Beaufort View Path. Enormous thanks to Bruce Holden and Gordon Hobsen who did the major grunt work to build the base for the boardwalk and to many volunteers. More recently the trail between the west side of the boardwalk and Beaufort View Path was mapped out and developed by more hardworking volunteers. They cleared the route and placed small logs along the sides.

For building the boardwalk and trail we owe our gratitude to volunteers Bruce Holden, Tim Fuchs, John Lane, Tony Carrigan, Boyd MacKean, John Millen, Dave Steele , Dennis Lavalle, Denise MacKean, Annie Corddry, visitor Randy Lord, Yoshi Yoshihara, Keith Porteous, Charlie Johnston, Carroll Taylor-Lindoe, Andrew Fyson, and Sonya Edelston. We’d also like to thank Peter Janes for permitting the use of his driveway while we worked on the boardwalk and trail. It is heartwarming to have the support of the community as we work towards fulfilling plans for Central Park.

The boardwalk is for pedestrian use only and is accessible from Swale Trail which starts at North Central Road as well as from Beaufort View Path. We ask that you stay on the marked paths and keep your dogs under control. We especially do not want dogs disturbing the wetlands, so please use a leash if that’s what it takes with your dog.

Photo by Ginny Thornton

Earlier in the summer volunteers worked on Pickles Road Trail in the northwest corner of the park to make the trail safe for use by horses and bicyclists as well as pedestrians. Bruce again led the way with Josh Vandale by splitting on-site cedar into planks and making a cribbing for fill. Nearby fill was moved by Ray Ulevic (backhoe) and an army of wheelbarrows, shovels and rakes wielded by Jackie Ward, Charlie Johnston, Wendy Pope, Carroll Taylor-Lindoe, Annie Corddry, as well as Bruce, Josh and visiting cousin Alex. This trail links with the Crown Land to the Northwest of the park. We ask that visitors please use good judgment about using this trail if it looks too wet.

The kiosk near the main entry to the Park was built by Bob Vosburgh. It is used to display maps of the trails. We always welcome your feedback or reports of trail hazards. Trail development and maintenance is the work of volunteers so we request your patience as we continue this work. Please let us know if you want to be added to our volunteers list.

The Management Plan for Central Park prepared by the Central Park Committee is being reviewed and, once adopted by the DCA Board it will be available for public viewing at the Dora Drinkwater Library.

On October 19 the DCA Board agreed on the boundaries of the one hectare parcel that will be offered to the Denman Island Memorial Society and on arrangements to apply to the Agricultural Land Commission to exempt that property from the Agricultural Land Reserve. A meeting of members of DCA will be held to consider the transfer of the land.

Denman Conservancy Association

is thrilled to announce

Central Park Purchase is Complete

Its true. Thanks to your generosity the mortgage was paid off two years ahead of schedule! The fund raising committee wishes to thank everyone who donated and who participated in our fund raising efforts. This purchase was funded largely through your donations and by fundraising events such as the Home and Garden Tour.

You are invited to a
Mortgage Burning Potluck
Please come and celebrate with us on
Sunday, October 25 at 6 pm
At The back hall

A little history: Just three years ago in September of 2006 DCA was able to purchase the 147 acres we now call Central Park. The acquisitions committee of DCA had previously identified this property as a priority for purchase. Much credit is due to board member Denise MacKean. Acting decisively, she took the plunge and bought this spectacular chunk of Denman’s natural beauty. She offered the property to the DCA at her cost with an interest-free loan to be paid off over 5 years. On March 27, 2006 the board took this offer to the membership who approved it enthusiastically.

If you go walking through Central Park today you’ll still see the remnants of the extensive logging that took place in the late ‘90s. You’ll also witness the inspiring power of nature to regenerate, of the land to heal itself. On the human front, the Central Park committee and many volunteers have made and maintained trails, provided signage, and constructed boardwalks. We can now walk or ride from the Old School to Pickles Road, away from traffic and noise.

Central Park is about to become a leading example of conservation groups working with community to care for the dead in a sustainable way. If the DCA membership agrees, a 2 acre portion of the southeast corner of Central Park will become a natural burial ground, one of the first in BC. This project is being led by the newly-formed Denman Island Memorial Society. While it might be the appropriate place to bury the mortgage, I for one can’t resist the satisfying feeling of symbolically commending the debt to the flames in the Hall woodstove.

Burial or immolation, help us lay the debt to rest and celebrate a heart-warming community effort as we share food and drink.

DCA’s Annual Fundraising

Our supporters have been mailed our annual fundraising request. We are more dependent than ever for your support this year in the absence of funding from Provincial Government sources. Conservation of the Environment has been assigned a low priority in Victoria.

This Newsletter was produced by:
Susan-Marie Yoshihara, J & Ginny Thornton, Andrew Fyson, John Millen and Annie Corddry.

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