Newsletter May 2010

DANES CREEK CONSERVATION COVENANT

As a condition of rezoning the 220 acres area known as The Point, the Local Trust Committee of Islands Trust required the owner to place a conservation covenant on the wetland in the Danes Creek watershed. DCA agreed to hold this covenant. This 5.6 Ha conservation covenant area is located near the northern end of Northwest Road.

The covenant area

is a wetland complex.  Cattail marsh pockets are widespread and beavers have created flooded impoundments and are actively altering the habitat.  Numerous creek channels flow through the area, both in and under forested stands, as well as in the open. The area was most recently logged in 1999.

The area is host to the endangered Taylors Checkerspot butterfly, adult butterflies were seen there in May 2009, and this wetland complex has small sites of potential breeding habitat for the butterfly.  These breeding sites may remain un-forested and available long term. Six other endangered species are also found in the covenant area.

 Access

Given that the vulnerable swamp wetland character of the area does not lend itself to trail development, there is no public access afforded by this covenant, though Denman Conservancy has the right to monitor and conduct scientific studies. This covenant brings the total land protected by DCA’s efforts over the past 20 years to 374.2 ha equalling 7.5% of the Island area.

TAYLOR’S CHECKERSPOTS IN MAY

The endangered Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha taylori) whose only known Canadian breeding sites are on Denman Island is flying through May and early June. It is most likely to be seen on sunny days as a brown smear whizzing past, sunning itself on roads and trails or drinking nectar from flowers. It is more commonly seen in the northern part of the island (around Denman Road and areas to the north) in clear-cuts, meadows and gardens but there are scattered reports from elsewhere. It is usually seen with its wings open as in the photo below.

The Taylor’s Checkerspot has a wingspan 4-4.5 cm (1.5-1.75 inches) across and is the only orange-brown butterfly with a bold checkered pattern flying at present. The often mistaken Mylitta Crescent is smaller and has patterns of black lines and not a checkerboard. If you think you see a Taylor’s Checkerspot, note the time and place and let me, Jenny Balke or J Thornton know. Information on sightings is important in our quest to conserve this beautiful creature.

Andrew Fyson, DCA Land Manager ( – 9047).

Denman Conservancy Association Newsletter May 2010

AT THE AGM – MARCH 1

Members of DCA approved the transfer of approximately one hectare (2.6 acres) in the southeast corner of Central Park to Denman Island Memorial Society (DIMS) for a cemetery.

(see report below on the Cemetery Workshop)

DCA DIRECTORS FOR 2010

• Stacey Armstrong – – – Secretary
• Annie Corddry
• David Critchley – – – – – Co-Chair
• John Dillon
• Patrick Fawkes
• Carol Freeman
• Dave Freeman
• DD Fuchs – – – – – – – – – – Treasurer
• Keith Keller
• John Millen
• J Thornton – – – – – – – – – – Co-Chair
• Keith Walker

CEMETERY PLANNING WORKSHOP

On Saturday & Sunday, May 1 and 2, DIMS sponsored a workshop to consider landscape planning issues for the new cemetery. The workshop was ably led by volunteers from the Community Studio of Landscape Architects.

The great puzzle for all attendees was how to effectively use the area for natural burials while preserving its natural vegetation and allowing a forest ecosystem to eventually reclaim the site.

A Conservation Covenant will be attached to the title of the cemetery land when it is transferred. This will provide for maintaining only native vegetation on the land and its use for natural burials. The covenant will give DCA a continuing interest in the management of the land.

Natural burial aims to return human remains to the earth in their natural state, with little or no impact on the land and without the emissions that result from cremation.

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Contributors to this Newsletter: Annie Corddry, Patrick Fawkes, Carol Freeman, Andrew Fyson, John Millen

SPRING WALKS AND TALKS

• May 15  Tree Island spring flowers:  Andrew Fyson
• May 29  Medicinal Plants:  Sheelagh Mackenzie
• June 12   Low Tide Exploration:   John Tayless

Watch for details of times and meeting places in the Grapevine

CENTRAL PARK UPDATE MAY 2010

We hope you will welcome spring with a visit to Central Park. You may find a new path or two since the last time you visited. Over the winter we have gradually been adding trail/path name signs to help make it easier for folks to find their way around. As well we are indicating user groups for the various paths on the name signs. We ask that you please abide by these signs.

At this time of year it is most important that you keep your dogs under your complete control and out of any wetlands because of the risk to nesting waterfowl.

A big thank you to the volunteers who put in a good morning’s work a few weeks ago cleaning up Alder Trail and Trumpeter Trail. It was nice to see the old faithful volunteers as well as several new faces. We will continue working away at our ‘to do’ list as we develop Central Park and hope that you will feel free to give us feedback, make suggestions, or ask to be added to our volunteers list.

There is now a copy of the Central Park Management Plan in the Dora Drinkwater library for those who are interested in having a look at it.

Denman Conservancy Association Newsletter May 2010