ItB次元官网网址檚 not over til itB次元官网网址檚 over.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 the sentiment of tree-lovers opposing the removal of 29 trees at 1201 Fort Street, a site that once housed the Victoria Truth Centre and is now on the way to becoming Bellewood Park B次元官网网址� a project by Abstract Developments that includes a six-storey and a four-storey building and nine town homes fronting onto Prentrelew Place.

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Community members gathered on Fort Street Sunday evening for a B次元官网网址済oodbye and thank youB次元官网网址� to the trees.

But Nancy Lane Macgregor, Rockland resident and member of the Community Trees Matter Network, said the event is about much more than mourning the long-standing oaks and cedars.

Macgregor said she wants the city to reevaluate B次元官网网址渢he outdatedB次元官网网址� Tree Preservation Bylaw which was last updated in 2005 and only protects non-native trees when their trunks are at least 80 centimetres in diameter or are growing within 15 metres from a watercourse.

In contrast, the City of Vancouver requires permits to remove non-native trees with 20-centimetre-diameter trunks.

Macgregor also hopes to see council implement an Urban Trees Master Plan to guide future decisions around tree removal and planting.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a huge awareness now of some of the needs in terms of climate change, in terms of how weB次元官网网址檙e building in the city,B次元官网网址� Macgregor said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e losing trees in the public sphere as well as in the private.B次元官网网址�

According to the network, at risk are two giant Sequoias, a Garry Oak, a Scots Pine, three Douglas Fir, an Incense Cedar, a Deodar Cedar, a Copper Beech, an English Oak, two Birches, a small Arbutus, a small Dogwood and other small trees around a house on the property, including a lilac bush and flowering crab apple.

The event was put on shortly after the network heard that blasting would begin soon in preparation for development.

B次元官网网址淲e imagine [that] would mean trees could come down soon. But that does not mean theyB次元官网网址檙e down yet.B次元官网网址�

These locals do not want to see the trees come down for future development.

B次元官网网址� Nina Grossman (@NinaGrossman)

With candles and lights lit, the group sang songs and shared stories of the trees.

B次元官网网址淭his [event] is in honour of the trees at 1201 Fort Street that have served this place for over 150 years, with their beauty, grandeur, and grace, making a peaceful place that we once walked through,B次元官网网址� Macgregor said in a statement. B次元官网网址淭hey cleaned the air and waters, sequestered carbon, and brought well-being to animals, plants, birds and people.B次元官网网址�

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