Tuesday 16 June 2015

EcoSask News, June 16, 2015

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Events
Cypress Hills Waste Workshop, June 25
The Recycling Council of Alberta and the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council are hosting a joint regional waste reduction workshop at the Resort at Cypress Hills on June 25.

Duck Mountain Mysteries, June 27-28
The Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan will be visiting Duck Mountain’s forests, lakes, and fens on June 27 and 28. They’ll be on the lookout for rare Lady’s Slipper as well as the carnivorous Pitcher Plant.

Nature Days, McKell Wascana Conservation Park (Regina)
Ducks Unlimited Saskatchewan is hosting the following activities at the McKell Wascana Conservation Park:
June 27 - Pond Dipping
July 10 - Nature Walk
July 25 - Pond Dipping
McKell Wascana Conservation Park is a 175-acre park, dedicated to conserving and restoring native prairie and wetland habitat.

Field Trips
Young Naturalists
July 17 – Butterfly Field Trip
Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment.

Golden Eagles
June 25, 7:30 am – Beland’s Acreage near Maymont

Other Nature Society Field Trips
June 27, 2-5 pm – Wanuskewin Botany Trip
June 28, 1:30-4:30 pm – Butterflies III
July 1, 9 am – 2 pm – Wild Orchids Field Trip
Check the Saskatoon Nature Society’s website for full details (e.g. some trips require rubber boots, others will be cancelled if the weather is bad).

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar.

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News
Trees and Public Education
Meewasin Valley Authority recently received two grants. The first, $25,000 from 2015 CN EcoConnexions, was used to plant more than 2,000 trees and shrubs in Diefenbaker Park to help restore disturbed riverbank and contribute to biodiversity.

The second, $40,000 from the RBC Blue Water Project, will be used promote biodiversity and clean water. The project will combine citizen science with conservation field work to protect the quality of urban waterways, including the South Saskatchewan River and related drainage channels.

Airport Wildlife
Plastic-Chewing Coyotes: Yarmouth International Airport is working on a multi-year plan to keep wildlife and humans using the airstrip safe. They’ve discovered that aluminum tape is a cheap, effective way to stop coyotes from chewing the plastic coating on the landing lights wiring.

40 Beehives at Saskatoon Airport: “With ample access to wild flowers, water, bushes for wind protection and no on-site pesticide use, the Saskatoon airport is an ideal location for the honey-producing insect. While the traffic in and out of the area would hamper other agricultural practices such as livestock keeping, beehive harvesting offers an ideal low-impact use of the sprawling fields neighbouring the hangers.” (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

Montreal may be the only other airport in Canada with bees.

Permaculture-Based Passive Housing
Work has begun on the largest permaculture-based, passive house, urban eco-community in Europe. The community will include a farm, 68 affordable housing units, and a wildlife corridor.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

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