Red Deer Woodchucks were a bunch of busy beavers on Saturday.
About 75 volunteers, including the Woodchucks, a local chapter of Junior Forest Wardens and their parents, were planting 12,000 seedlings of native trees and shrubs in a slough northwest of Eckville on the property of area farmer Gerald Justavson.
“Our club has planted at least 30,000 trees in the last three years,” said Ken Lewis, Red Deer Woodchucks assistant co-ordinator.
Saturday’s Red Deer Woodchuck/Pheasants Forever Tree Plant was the third annual Pheasants Forever event for the Woodchucks, who range from Grade 1 to 12.
Volunteers planted 12 varieties of seedings, from willow to poplar to chokecherry, to convert farm land back into habitat for upland game birds.
Parents started planting on Friday and children joined in on Saturday from 9 a.m. and into the afternoon.
About 25 families are members of the Woodchucks this year.
Lewis said members will revisit the plant in a few years to see how much their seedlings have grown.
“In one or two years they don’t grow a lot. They’re setting down roots and getting ready to grow. The next few years will be the real testimony,” Lewis said.
Junior Forest Wardens is an outdoor program with opportunities to camp, backpack, canoe, mountaineer, and tree plant.
Members are taught about tree, plant and animal identification, soil types, weather and water, resource management, threats to the environment and our resources, first aid, and more.
“I think it teaches them a valuable lesson about our environment,” said Rose Crist who was planting with her two daughters Zayda, 7, and Nina, 16.
“It’s worth it.”
As they began their work Saturday morning the rain stopped, but grey skies loomed overhead.
“It’s a little chilly. A little wet, but the ground is nice and soft so that’s in our favour.”
Her daughter said digging holes for the seedlings was easy.
“You get it in and then you jump on it,” said Zayda demonstrating how to dig deep with her shovel.
Shannon Lirondelle who was planting with her husband Cameron, and their children Aiden, 4, Ainsley, 9, and Abby, 11, said Pheasants Forever takes good care of the volunteers, even delivering snacks in the field.
“It’s fun. It’s a good atmosphere,” said Shannon Lirondelle.
Pheasants Forever Canada Inc. is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants and other upland wildlife to preserve habitat, wildlife and hunting through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.
Pheasants Forever Central Alberta chapter has been around for 12 years. They release pheasants as well fund habitat planting.
“We’ve got about 15 different planting areas. We spread it out,” said Urbain Zak, habitat co-ordinator with the chapter.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com