They might be only small steps, but county council is considering an expansion of its Green Legacy program to make it more accessible to school kids in the northern part of the county.
Council heard from its planning committee on Sept. 30 that there is a site near Damascus that might be a good way to expand the program’s partnerships while making the Green Legacy more accessible.
Planning committee chairman Walter Trachsel said there is a concern at the committee that the distance to travel to Puslinch Township in the south to visit the Green Legacy nursery is a hindrance for students in North Wellington.
He noted the county placed money in its five year plan to expand the program at Little Tract, in Puslinch to produce more seedlings and larger stock, but there is a northern alternative.
Trachsel said county staff examined a number of northern sites, including the Riverston dump area and various county agreement forests, but they al had drawbacks. Talks with the Grand River Conservation Authority, already a Green Legacy partner, led to consideration of a site near Luther Lake, That site, just west of Damascus, is currently being used by the Upper Grand District School Board for its Community Environmental Leadership Program (CELP).
Trachsel said the committee emphasized that there have been no talks to date with the school board about the possibilities, but that staff of the three organizations plan to meet and discuss the possibilities of working together.
The committee report stated, “The Green Legacy would seem like a natural fit with the CELP initiative and the GRCA’s desire to be involved in outdoor education.
The report also noted the site has “a number of natural advantages including the GRCA ownership of significant lands in the area, proximity to Luther Lake, an existing building with potential meeting, office, washroom and outdoor education facilities. A barn with a concrete floor … could potentially serve as a transplant centre and storage.”
The report concluded that “Very preliminary staff discussions would suggest the county being responsible for the tree growing program and the conservation authority and school undertaking the outdoor education program.”
