Mr. Christmas Tree Hosts Public Field Day

NOTE: Directions to Mr. Ernst's woodlot follow this release.

Tom Ernst, western region winner of the 2006 woodlot owner of the year award, invites Nova Scotians to his property on Saturday, Sept. 16th.

The field day will include a demonstration of how trees are managed during their growth, a tour of a 53-hectare Christmas tree lot, a portable sawmill demonstration, a visit to a woodlot pond, and a tour of a red pine stand to see how woodlots can be used to produce specialty products.

Mr. Ernst has been managing his woodlot near Mahone Bay, Lunenburg Co., for 39 years. He was also instrumental in organizing Christmas tree growers and forming the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia.

"I want to congratulate Mr. Ernst, and his employees over the years, for their contribution," said Natural Resources Minister David Morse. "A lot of effort has gone into promoting the benefits of sustainable management in this important industry. We appreciate their willingness to support public awareness by sharing their success stories with the public."

The Nova Scotia woodlot owner of the year award recognizes and rewards landowners for outstanding stewardship. It was developed to encourage sustainable woodlot management and to increase public awareness of the importance of private woodlots in Nova Scotia.

Owners are evaluated on their effort and commitment to setting and meeting sustainable goals for their land; improving their knowledge or understanding of the forest land or the forest in general; improving the condition of, access to and health of their woodland; using integrated resource management, with an emphasis on wood production while considering values such as wildlife habitat protection and recreation.

Mr. Morse added that nominations are now being accepted for the 2007 awards program. Nova Scotia residents who own between 20 and 800 hectares (50 and 2,000 acres) of woodland in the province are eligible. Nominations are accepted at Department of Natural Resources offices until March 31 of each year. Information is available on the government website at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/extension/woya .

NOTE: Directions to the Ernst woodlot, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg county. Watch for signs.

From Halifax Take Highway 103 west to Exit 10 (Mahone Bay/Matins River.) Turn right at stop sign and proceed west 1.5 kilometres towards Mahone Bay. Turn right on Clearland Road (just before the tourist bureau and 3 churches.) Continue along the Clearland Road and take Woodstock Road to the Ernst woodlot at Spondo (11 kilometers).

From Bridgewater Take Hwy 103 east to Exit 11(Mahone Bay /Lunenburg.) Turn right at the stop sign and travel along Route 324 to flashing light. Turn left at flashing light and proceed east to Mahone Bay. At Mahone Bay turn left on Clearway Street and continue until turning onto Woodstock Road and to the Ernst woodlot at Spondo (11 kilometres).