A tree thrives in Oak Bay to honour a woman named Yolanda.
Setting roots near Loon Bay a quite a few years now, it grows as a gift for both community and Vikki CecchiniB次元官网网址檚 husband, Roberto.
The year after RobertoB次元官网网址檚 mother passed away, in their home B次元官网网址� not far from where the tree now grows B次元官网网址� Vikki sought to buy him a gift. Looking for a man who already has all the things he needs, she went looking for a memorial bench program, and came across Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 tree program.
B次元官网网址淥ur garden is full of trees, we donB次元官网网址檛 have space for more trees,B次元官网网址� Vikki said, but Oak Bay had plenty of openings in the neighbourhood.
YolandaB次元官网网址檚 tree started a domino effect, with trees stretching across Uplands to honour RobertoB次元官网网址檚 dad, then two sets of grandparents, after that came VikkiB次元官网网址檚 family.
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Somewhere in the range of 20 trees later, the pair purchased the tall lean oak now replacing its tippy predecessor on Beach Drive not far from Glenlyon Norfolk School.
In April, after decades of decline, the 150-year-old tree with a desperate lean over the public walkway was removed.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 tough being a tree in an urban setting. That tree had a vehicle strike which started its demise,B次元官网网址� parks manager Chris Hyde-Lay said during a May 14 celebration of the new tree.
B次元官网网址淭hey are instrumental and really one of the driving forces on urban forest renewal here in the district,B次元官网网址� Hyde-Lay said.
Grown from a local acorn, the replacement tree is B次元官网网址渁n outstanding specimen and itB次元官网网址檚 going to grow here for a long long time,B次元官网网址� he added.
Currently Oak Bay has a mature to overly mature urban forest in need of renewal. The grand keystone trees that serve as the framework are aging. Carnarvon for example has an 18 per cent cover and theyB次元官网网址檙e younger trees, Hyde-Lay said, but theyB次元官网网址檙e also species such as plum and mountain ash with shorter life expectancy.
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Oak Bay offers a free tree program for residents, in part to achieve the goal laid out in its Urban Forest Strategy to plant 6,000 trees of varying sizes on both public and private land by 2045.
B次元官网网址淵ou may think itB次元官网网址檚 a little aggressively optimistic, that may be true, but every little bit helps,B次元官网网址� Hyde-Lay said.
The Ceccinis are doing their part. A diverse range of trees including dogwoods, oaks, sequoia have all been carefully selected by the experts at the district.
B次元官网网址淲e have the time, we have the resources, we donB次元官网网址檛 have the expertise,B次元官网网址� Vikki said.
By leaning on the knowledge of the district, they know a solid tree stands a good change of bringing joy to the community. They have no plans to stop. Next up is a replacement tree in a neighbourhood playground.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e here to care for the global gardens,B次元官网网址� Vikki said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e custodians.B次元官网网址�
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