It was a small but passionate group that gathered early Friday morning on the edge of the controversial former Lafarge property on Silvercreek Parkway South.
Their goal was to draw attention to and prevent — if only for the day — the cutting down of roughly 2,000 trees on the property known by those that use it as the Howitt Creek Woods.
Preparatory work in advance of the tree removal started earlier this week.
The goal was achieved, at least temporarily, when workers showed up around 10 a.m., along with police, but the workers left shortly after and the group was told that they would not be working today.
The group hadn't decided if its efforts would be repeated on other days.
“That is our plan,” said Annie Corbin, spokesperson for the informal group that set up just outside a fence erected on the part of Silvercreek Parkway South accessed by Waterloo Avenue.
Large signs saying "We need wild spaces" and "We all need wild spaces" were draped on a fence erected by the property owner.
The property’s owner, Silvercreek (Guelph) Developments, has been given permission to begin preparation for the removal of approximately 2,000 trees that have grown on the property over the last 20 years or so in order to prepare the former gravel pit for commercial development.
No development application has yet been submitted.
“The powers that allow this to happen must be questioned and we must stand against them, otherwise nothing will ever change,” said Corbin, spokesperson for the informal group, which included many young families that live nearby.
Ideally the group would like to see council revoke the tree cutting permit and review the by-law that allows “the levelling of green spaces.”
“Unless we start rallying together and standing for change, there’s no hope for it,” Corbin said.
She said wild urban spaces such as the former Lafarge land allows people to connect with nature and get a greater understanding of its importance on a bigger scale.
“I personally feel very attached to this piece of land and my children do as well. What has gotten me riled up about this and ready to take action against it is that we do feel so deeply about this land.
“Without these wild spaces for people to connect to, the hopes of them standing for anything natural and the earth is unlikely because they won’t have a personal connection to it.”
People have used the property for years, riding bikes, walking dogs and strolling through the overgrown area that surrounds a closed of section of Silvercreek Parkway South.
A vigil held two weeks ago drew 75 people.
Ami Dhene, who lives a stone’s throw away from the edge of the property, was there with her two young children.
“For me, this is just a really important place for my kids to grow up in and to have the ability to be free and to explore,” Dhene said.
“I understand this is going to be cut down. I know that’s going to happen. I’m just here in support and to say I really care about what’s happening here,” Dehne said.
Christina Kingsbury said the space is important for the city. It’s urban and accessible.
“It’s also an ecosystem that’s remediating itself and that’s really important to be with and to see,” Kingsbury said.
Mayor Cam Guthrie addressed the issue a week ago, saying that the property owner is following the rules and regulations associated with the property.
He said that he too would be concerned if the land stayed vacant for a long time following the tree removal, but that a development application and proposal could soon be forthcoming.
“But if it sits with nothing for years — that bothers me,” the Mayor said.
The city’s tree by-law does not require removals to happen at the time of making an application to build or as part of a site plan, something Guthrie admitted needs to be re-examined.
The developer is responsible for planting new trees — or funding the planting of new trees — as part of any tree removal plan.
