Latest news with #EricDavies
CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
One of Toronto's oldest elm trees is on its last legs. Researchers are racing to re-grow copies
One of the largest old elm trees in Toronto — possibly in all of southern Ontario — is on its last legs. But as the city finalizes plans to take down the Barton Street landmark next week, a University of Toronto tree expert is determined to ensure it will live again. Eric Davies, a forestry ecologist at the University of Toronto, visited the tree earlier this week to record its size and gather its seeds, which will be used to re-grow a copy of the tree in the future as part of the city's Tree Seed Diversity Program (TSDP). He and his students measured the trunk's height at 40 metres and its circumference at 5.5 metres. "It's sad," he said of the tree's fate. "Each one that comes down, you want to do it some kind of justice by improving our ability to maintain Toronto's trees and forests." Residents of the Seaton Village neighbourhood, in the Christie and Bloor streets area, noticed earlier this year that the old American elm remained barren this spring, while much younger nearby trees were growing leaves. Thirteen-year-old Ethan Tantram, who passes the tree every day on his way to school, said he and his father noticed this spring that the tree seemed ill. "It's heartbreaking," he said this week. "It's a big thing in our community." Unclear what's killing the tree The teen used his drone to get a closer look at the tree's branches and his father later called the city to report the tree wasn't doing well. City staff said an inspector determined during a May 30 visit that the tree was dying and posed a danger to the public. City spokesperson Shane Gerard told CBC Toronto in an email the city has tried to determine exactly what's killing the tree, but lab results have been inconclusive. "The tree was observed with a thinning crown and yellowing leaves in late summer 2024," his email reads. "Removing the tree will prevent it from becoming a hazard, as dead branches are more prone to breakage." Davies, who's recognized by the city as a seed gatherer for the seed diversity program, says he'll be on hand Tuesday when the tree is brought down. "This is one of the nicest remaining elms in Toronto (and) probably has a high quality gene stock to it," he said. "Each one is not only important ecologically but culturally." Local artist Jode Roberts, who lives within sight of the tree, agreed it's meant a lot to the community. Last year, he used old photos of the neighbourhood from the city archives to peg the tree's age at at more than 100 years. He then fashioned a heritage plaque explaining the tree's significance and attached it to a utility pole next to the tree. "There's a profound sadness when something like this disappears," he told CBC Toronto. "It survived Dutch elm disease and the development of the city around it. So sure — let's take its babies and see if we can make more majestic elms." Native trees vastly outnumbered, says researcher Once Davies has gathered the elm's seeds, they'll go into the TSDP, which will distribute them to one of several participating nurseries in the Greater Toronto Area. Once they've matured, in four to seven years, they'll be planted in one of the city's 80-odd parks and ravines — one that's been identified as a good fit for a new elm tree. Davies and a team of U of T students are spending the summer mapping the city's largest and oldest native tree species. He says those native trees are vastly outnumbered in Toronto by invasive species, and he hopes his map will allow the city to aid in their regeneration. Each tree that's mapped is measured and its seeds collected, he said. Those seeds will then be passed on to the TSDP for regrowth. One of Davies' summer students is Sam Sedgwick, who's studying toward a master's degree in forest conservation at U of T. He called the Barton Street elm the most impressive he's seen so far. "With the presence of Dutch elm disease, we've lost pretty much every large elm in the city, so the fact this one is still here really speaks to its resilience," he said. "We really want to preserve those genetics as much as we can." Sedgwick helped take measurements of the elm earlier this week. He noted the tree is more than five metres in circumference, 40 metres high and that its canopy covers five houses on Barton Street. "That's a lot of air conditioning," he said.
South Wales Argus
23-04-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Plans for Garden Kitchen by Pugh's, Abergavenny approved
However Welsh historic buildings body Cadw, which had already raised concerns two refrigerated containers planned for a service yard would be partly inside the boundary of Abergavenny Castle historic park and gardens, still has to give scheduled monument consent. South Wales-based chain Pugh's wants to open its second Garden Kitchen by Pugh's store at the former Timothy Oulton Outlet furniture and homeware store, at 7 to 9 Mill Street, which is considered a gateway to the town centre and is within the Abergavenny conservation area. Timothy Oulton closed in January and the buildings, at the turning of Mill Street and Cross Street, were the Eric Davies furniture shop for many years. Monmouthshire County Council's planning department has approved the change of use from retail to mixed retail including food and drink and for outside seating as well as associated works and new storage buildings. Pugh's has said it's operated the food and retail concept at its Rogerstone branch, near Newport, since 2021 and as well as a garden centre features a deli counter and food hall with a 60-seat restaurant. Activities such as workshops could also be held at the Abergavenny shop. This photograph of the current service yard, car parking area beside the shop shows how close it is to Abergavenny Castle. Planning officer Kate Bingham said, in a report, the plans support the vibrancy and viability of the town centre and central shopping area: 'The application for change of use is welcomed in terms of place making as it will create a destination venue at this end of Cross Street, contributing to the vitality and vibrancy of the town centre and conservation area. 'The buildings are not listed but are within Abergavenny conservation area. The proposal is considered to retain the historic character of the building and makes minimal external alterations. It will bring a vacant unit back into use contributing to the vibrancy of the street scene.' The current service yard is described as distracting from the conservation area and plans to improve it are welcomed. The opening hours applied for, from 7am to 11pm, are consistent with town centre expectations, though it isn't anticipated to typically open for those hours but could for events such as the Abergavenny Food Festival. The application was supported by the Abergavenny and District Civic Society which said it hopes Cadw and the council will 'make every effort to resolve any impediments to approval'. According to the planning application the store could employ up to 30 full-time equivalent staff.
