Earth Day at Sandy Lake

Posted on April 26, 2018 by admin

I was not able to lead an Earth Day nature walk as had been planned to take place at Sandy Lake on April 22, but Bob Guscott kindly took my place. Bob and I had collaborated on some observations on pit and mound topography at Sandy Lake and by Grand Lake last fall, so he was familiar with the territory. Karen Robinson reports on the event below. I am only sorry that I could not have attended as a small bird to share in the experience! – David P

Eager learners
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Bob Guscott led an enthusiastic group of about 40 on a forest walk at Sandy Lake on April 22nd, 2018. The event, organized by the Sandy Lake Conservation Association (www.sandylake.org), had three purposes: to celebrate Earth Day, to recognize the city’s work to create a Green Network, and to launch the Sandy Lake Regional Park Coalition.

Bob is a keen naturalist and forest ecologist who retired from the NS Dept. of Natural Resources after 30 years as a Chief Technician and Forest Health Specialist.
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Sandy Lake Conservation Association’s Earth Day Event – April 22, 2018

Posted on April 20, 2018 by admin

David P (left) and Bob G ponder pit and mound topgraphy

Starting at 1:30 pm at the inner parking lot of the Bedford Lions Club Beach at the end of Smith’s Road, off the 102 at Hammonds Plains Road.

Bob Guscott is leading a forest walk around a portion of Sandy Lake. It is expected to last 1.5 hours minimum. It will be an informative walk (not a hike).
Karen Robinson of the Sandy Lake Conservation Association will talk about the efforts being made to protect Sandy Lake and Environs, and Jenny Lugar from Our HRM Alliance will talk about how Sandy lake and Environs relate to Halifax’s developing Green Network.

Bob is a naturalist and forest ecologist who retired in 2009 from the NS Dept. of Natural Resources after 30 years as a Chief Technician and Forest Health Specialist. Bob and David P are collaborating on studies of pit and mound topography at sites on Sandy Lake and Grand Lake.

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April 12, 2018: Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes Regional Park Citizen’s Meeting

Posted on April 7, 2018 by admin

“All are invited to a public meeting on April 12th for updates and information on park progress. We will also explore interest in forming a citizen’s group, such as a “Friends of Blue Mountain” group, to speak up for creation of the promised park and collaborate with the municipality and other levels of government.
Please come to St. Peter’s Anglican Church Hall from 7-9pm on Thursday, April 12th.
There will be a formal presentation at 7:15, and opportunity for questions and public comments at 8pm.”
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Thursday Apr 5, 2018: Natural History of Sandy Lake & Environs – cancelled

Posted on March 27, 2018 by admin

Unfort. this event had to be canceled because of illness. It will be given on another evening sometime in the next month
Apologies

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“Spare HRM’s Sandy Lake ‘jewel’ in suburban HRM from bulldozers”

Posted on March 8, 2018 by admin

Sandy Lake BedfordSo reads an Op-Ed by Karen Robinson in the Business section of the Chronicle Herald March 7 in the print edition and March 6 online. Karen wrote as “park committee chair of the Sandy Lake Conservation Association [and also] on behalf of the Sackville Rivers Association.

The Op-ed provides a brief history of efforts to create a park in the area of Sandy Lake, cites its natural and social values, and places it all in the context of Halifax’s developing Green Network.
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Acadian Forest Love Affair

Posted on January 26, 2018 by admin

Walking in a bit of old forest above Sandy Lake on the summer solstice (2017), I encountered a yellow birch and a hemlock that seemed to be growing from the same base, their trunks ascending to the skies in tandem. I thought of it as an “Acadian Forest Love Affair”.

Subsequently, with my eyes open to this forest affair, I viewed a half dozen or more other such couples.

Read more about the not-so-secret-life-of hemlock and yellow birch!

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Winter splendour by Sandy Lake

Posted on January 21, 2018 by admin

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Walking towards Sandy Lake beach , I was
told: “You have to take a photo of the
hemlock in the sun” So I did (at right).

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Hello world!

Posted on December 20, 2017 by admin

The Intro describes what this website is about.

As it stands, the website is essentially a working document rather than a finished product. I have posted it now because there is information that is important to share now rather than later (notably on the state of Sandy Lake), also to get feedback, e.g., on my understanding of the current status of Sandy Lake and Environs as described in the Overview, as I develop the website.

There are still substantial additions to be made, but the Overview covers the main topics at least in outline.

The section on Lakes, which deals with water quality/limnology, is complete. As with any page, updates and editorial changes will be ongoing.

I have indicated which pages still have a lot to be added, e.g., by “More to come” and so on.

The Overview provides the whole story in outline, the rest of the website, supporting documentation and additional resources.

– David P, January 13, 2018.

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