Two blog stories ago (http://bitsandpeaces08.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-london.html ) I talked about the importance of individuals contributing in positive ways to make each of our communities healthier and happier. I ended with this…
…photo of me, as I arrived at London’s City Hall. Let’s take a look to see what’s going on inside…
The City Counsellors were just beginning to fill their seats…
…and the seats available for the public to attend, where all soon to be occupied. It was going to be a full house!
This is my friend Melissa – holding the ‘Stop Sprawl’ sign. We’ve known each other for a few years, after an interesting first meeting. Melissa has helped me to edit a few of my music videos for Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVcQiXq9qhI ) and we had another meeting just yesterday, to pursue another video that I’ll be sharing with you in another week or two.
I had first heard of Meadowlily Woods Park during our first conversation and I’ve been aware of a little bit of the controversy surrounding this area of London, but I must admit, that my knowledge on the issues is very limited. It was Melissa who told me about this City Council meeting and I was glad to attend because I wanted to learn more.
The first thing that I learned was that this meeting was designed for the sole purpose of the community to offer insight, concern and inspiration to the council members so that a prosperous decision could be made concerning development plans for the Meadowlily Woods Park.
I say ‘prosperous’ with the hopes that a sustainable plan will be reached offering Londoners and the wildlife that lives there a prosperous future. I think that it’s vitally important that our generation redefines many words such as ‘prosperous’ so we can begin thinking that Nature and natural habitats actually have a value in our societies!
There were many speakers with prepared reports and speeches and each took a short turn to share their knowledge about this valuable ecosystem. I was actually surprised by the fact that so many people had so many different things to share with hardly a repeat in the points that were made.
The first speaker shared a vision for the Meadowlily Woods Park. She suggested that the area remain much as is, but with more of an emphasis on education. People could be employed as caretakers of the park’s trails and guides for those interested in studying the many varieties of fish, birds, animals and insects that depend on this area for their survival – the list is extensive!!!
She continued by stating that this area is receiving much attention throughout Southern Ontario – and beyond – because of its uniqueness. She suggested that this area could generate income as an ecotourism destination. Many birds use the Meadowlily Woods as a resting area during their long migrations and certain species use only this area.
I really felt the importance in her well thought out presentation as I am aware that natural habitats such as the Meadowlily Woods are disappearing from our planet at an ever increasing rate. If we do not preserve areas such as this, then we lose opportunities to learn how Nature ‘works’.
The next speaker shared information concerning the environmental impact that is being felt in this area by the developments that already surround the Woods. With scientific research documents in hand, he shared information about the increase in riverbank erosion caused by the rise in rainwater runoff. Since the developed areas used to be forested until a decade or so ago, an enormous amount of clearcutting has already occurred. With the trees now gone, the naturally falling rainwater is not being used to feed the trees and so it flows in ever increasing rivulets to the river bringing with it more dirt and soil. Now the river has increased in volume, thus causing an ever increasing speed of erosion and more contaminates are added to the waters changing the very nature of the water, thus making the river a hostile environment for naturally occurring species.
The Gravel Chub is a species of Chub fish and the red area of the map below shows where this species of fish habitates.
Hmmmm…. Did you also notice that this red area is so very small and its central point is the City of London???
How do we place a value on such a small and seemingly unimportant creature? My fear is that we won’t be able to realize that this creature IS of great importance to its ecosystem until after it has become extinct. If plans for developing the Meadowlily Woods into a parking lot for Wal-Mart gets approved we will never have the opportunity to equate an answer to that question!
There were many people caring signs of protest against the development plans for another Wal-Mart in the City.
I came prepared with two signs of my own.
There are two development proposals laid out for the Meadowlily Woods Park. As mentioned, Wal-Mart wants to clear the area for another store and parking lot. The second plan is to develop the area into another subdivision complete with water runoff containment ponds – as if London needs any more of these!!!
The next speaker shared insights as to how these two different development plans would affect the area. Neither scenario was a pretty picture.
It was interesting to learn more about how forests live and breathe with the help of all the animals that live in these areas. Have you ever noticed that most forest edges are surrounded with low-lying shrub bushes? Many different species of birds live in these bushes and one of their ‘jobs’ is to fly around throughout the forest and gobble up all the yummy bugs that are eating the leaves of the forest trees. Building contractors like to clear these bushes away and when this happens the birds are driven off. When this happens the bug populations are not kept in check. When this happens the leaves of the forest trees are eaten at an ever-increasing rate. When this happens the trees can’t breathe. When this happens the forest dies!
Boy! I was learning a lot!!!
The next speaker brought to my attention – and hopefully the City Counsellors were listening too – how corrupt and manipulative Developers can be. We heard about one area of the Meadowlily Woods Park where a developer had (without approval – “Can you believe this,” was being whispered throughout the room) gone into one small area and cleared it away during the middle of the night! “Ooops! So sorry about that.” was the developer's response as they sought forgiveness for their actions. Many people are afraid that this kind of corruption will continue. If it does, we lose a unique forest and any sort of fines or penalties that the developers may have to pay will never bring this forest back!
As this meeting continued more and more people began to speak out. Many know this area very well and had personal stories to share about the enriching experiences they and their families have had over the many years. Slowly, the microphone was making its way towards me. I felt that I had to say something.
First I commended the City Counsellors for allowing the community to be a part of the development process. Then, I thanked the community for sharing their knowledge, inspiration and love for the Meadowlily Woods. I noted that I was surprised that so many people had so much to say with so little ever being repeated. I told how I had come to this meeting to learn about this issue and now I was inspired to continue to work with others to help preserve this area for future generations. “Even though I have never experience the Meadowlily Woods, I am now inspired to make sure that I do become acquainted with this repository of Nature!”
Throughout this whole affair, the public spoke and the counselors listened. I wanted to do something to bridge this gap, to make the room smaller, to join both sides of this debate. I concluded by asking the City Council members if they had ever been to the Meadowlily Woods and if they had any memories of this area. All but one counselor raised their hands and two counsellors made comments. This was my ‘crowning achievement’ for the evening and I hope that I made a positive contribution to this meeting.
I’d like to acknowledge Allan Jay as the photographer for all the Meadowlily Woods landscapes that brighten up this story. The other photos of maps and wildlife were also stolen from other sources. I have barely scratched the surface of these issues and I encourage anyone who is interested to learn more to contact the people who have dedicated themselves to this cause for many years. You could start by sending Gary Smith an email hopemailsmith@yahoo.ca – and you can check out this group’s website - www.meadowlilywoods.ca .
I would like to encourage you to send a letter voicing your opinion for the preservation of the Meadowlily Woods to London’s City Counsellors and Mayor:
Mayor Joe Fontana… jfontana@london.ca
Counsellors
Bud Polhill… bpolhill@london.ca
Bill Armstrong… barmstro@london.ca
Joe Swan… jswan@london.ca
Steve Orser… sorser@london.ca
Joni Baechler… jbaechler@london.ca
Nancy Branscombe… nbransco@london.ca
Matt Brown… mbrown@london.ca
Paul Hubert… phubert@london.ca
Dale Henderson… dhenders@london.ca
Paul Van Meerbergen… pvanmeer@london.ca
Denise Brown… dbrown@london.ca
Harold Usher… husher@london.ca
Judy Bryant… jbryant@london.ca
Sandy White… sawhite@london.ca
On behalf of the trees, waters and creatures of the Meadowlily Woods Park who can’t speak out for their own survival, I say, “Thanks to all Londoners and other readers for your support!!!!”
Jim
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