Woodlot Owners of Year to Host Field Days

Nova Scotians will have an opportunity to take interpretive walks in the woods, learn about Nova Scotia's organic Christmas tree industry, view informative displays or simply enjoy the great outdoors when regional and provincial Woodlot Owners of the Year open their properties to the public during the month of September.

"One of the exciting things about the Woodlot Owner of the Year Award program, is that it includes field day events on the properties of regional and provincial winners," said Natural Resources Minister David Morse. "This is a sort of open house that gives Nova Scotians a rare opportunity to learn how hard some woodlot owners work to keep our woods and wildlife habitat healthy while making a significant contribution to our economy."

The Woodlot Owner of the Year Award was developed by the Department of Natural Resources in 1990 to recognize and reward landowners for outstanding stewardship of their woodlots. To be eligible for the awards, individuals must own between 20 and 800 hectares (50 to 2,000 acres) of property and practice sustainable woodlot management.

The September field days begin on Saturday, Sept. 15, when Bob Bancroft and Alice Reed, winners of the title for the eastern region of the province, host visitors in Pomquet, Antigonish Co. The day's events will include informative displays and interpretative walks. To reach the Bancroft-Reed woodlot, follow Highway 104 past Antigonish about two kilometres east of Exit 35 to Taylor Road. Turn left. Travel five kilometres to Monks Head Road and turn left again. Travel for another two kilometres and look for house number 15 on the left.

Brian Brown will host a tour of his Windham Hill, Cumberland Co., winning property in the central region on Saturday, Sept. 22. Mr. Brown will discuss management of sugar woods, there will be demonstrations of vegetation management methods and visitors will have a spectacular view of a Christmas tree lot. To reach the Brown woodlot take Highway 104 west from Truro to Exit 6 (about 73 kilometres). Turn left onto Route 301 (River Philip Road). Travel 11 kilometres, turn right on Windham Hill Road. Travel seven kilometres. Turn left onto woodlot road and proceed to Brian Brown's woodlot gate.

The 2007 field days conclude on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Northfield, Lunenburg Co., property of Kevin and Susan Veinotte. The Veinottes won the western region competition and were later selected the provincial award winners. Their 170-hectare property includes uneven-aged forests and 12 hectares of organic Christmas trees. Special events will include demonstrations of horse and oxen logging. To get to the Veinottes' take exit 12 from Highway 103. Turn right onto Highway 10. Travel 6.5 kilometres. Turn right on Mossman Road. Travel about seven-tenths of a kilometer and take the road on the right. Watch for signs.

All field days will operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"This is a unique opportunity for families to spend some time together out in the woods," Mr. Morse said. "I think in today's hustle and bustle we sometimes lose sight of how much we can teach our children, just by going out for a walk and letting Mother Nature guide our discussions."

To further encourage the educational benefits of the Woodlot Owner of the Year Award program, elementary schools in the local areas have been invited to visit the winning woodlands in the days leading up to each field day.

Landowners who compete for the woodlot owner awards 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; and
• considering values such as wildlife habitat protection and recreation.

The regional and provincial winners were named in July.

For more information on the awards, the field days, or to learn how to apply for the 2008 competition, see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/extension/woya or call the local Department of Natural Resources regional office.