Click on image for YouTube Video
You have to see the uniqueness of the Backlands to believe that such a rare and rugged place exists in HRM. This aerial video of the Backlands is worth a million superlatives.
The Drone Team is led by Antonio with pilots Thomas, Nicholas, and Zack and directed by Cathy Vaughan of the Williams Lake Conservation Company Dam Committee. Continue reading
An article by Cathy Vaughn in the latest (November) issue of the Chebucto News makes the case for protection of the Backlands very succinctly. It begins:
Rugged granite barrens, rich ecosystems, and rare glacially sculpted landscapes are tucked among Spryfield’s historical villages, fishing communities, commercial businesses and the urban crush of scattered housing developments, sprawling subdivisions and impending building projects. Purcell’s Cove Backlands covers 1,350 hectares of lands between Purcell’s Cove Road and Herring Cove Road, and from Power’s Pond in Herring Cove to the shores of Williams Lake. Hiking and biking trails twist and wind through scrub brush, rich woodlands, and rare Jack Pine/ Broom Crowberry on rugged barrens next to vibrant neighbourhoods and busy communities in Spryfield.
The Purcell’s Cove Backlands Coalition wants to protect these rare lands, their important natural services and access to nature.
Read more in the November Chebucto News, pages 6 & 7. Also on those pages and by Cathy Vaughan: Hike Purcell’s Cove Backlands with Ecology Action Centre about the splendours revealed on an EAC-led hike in the Backlands.
Mid fall, when the huckleberry leaves turn fire engine just before finally being shed, is a great time to visit our Jack Pine-Crowberry Barrens. We are past the peak of it now, especially with recent heavy winds and rains, but there should still be some remnant flashes of red this weekend, great for photographs.
These barrens are most readily accessible via the trailhead for the Osprey Trail; it’s located on Alibaster Way at the southern edge of the Governor’s Brook residential area. For the exact location, view the Trailhead on Google Maps. The Osprey Trail is super-popular for both both mountain-biking and walking. The Osprey Trail is one piece of a larger network of trails in this area built and maintained by the McIntosh Run Watershed Association.
There are a couple of features of the barrens in this area that make it a quite special place.
From Our HRM Alliance
“Join our hybrid public talk on Wednesday October 26, 2022 from 3:00 – 5:00 PM by one of Canada’s leading environmental lawyers, David Donnelly. Join us to learn about a landmark Supreme Court of Canada case while exploring the implications for planning and nature conservation! Hosted by Dalhousie School of Planning at the Richard Murray Design Building – 5257 Morris Street, Halifax, 3rd floor Planning Studio. This is a hybrid event, if you are unable to join in person, you can watch on Zoom here.”
RESCHEDULING NOTICE:
The Public Hearing for the Regional Plan Review, Phase 3 originally on the agenda for Tuesday, September 27th has been RESCHEDULED to October 11, 2022 at 6pm, in Regional Council Chambers (City Hall) – 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax.
From Shape Our City, some details on how to participate.
- Advanced registration is NOT required. View the staff report.
- All oral and written submissions will be considered at that time.
- Written submissions may be forwarded to the Municipal Clerk by mail, P.O. Box 1749, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 3A5; by fax, 902-490-4208; or by e-mail(External link).
- Written submissions should be received by the Municipal Clerk’s office as early as possible and not later than 3:00 p.m. on October 11, 2022.
Some concerns in relation to the Backlands (KH): Continue reading
It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Burkhard Plache.
With his wife Ingrid, he was a constant visitor to the Backlands, and introduced many people to its natural wonders.
Burkhard was a pillar of the Halifax naturalist community and will be sorely missed by his wife Ingrid and all of us who knew him.
There will be a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving on Sep 28, 2022.
Please see his obituary for details: https://www.dartmouthfuneralhome.ca/obituary/burkhard-plache
Leading Forest Species
Layer in the NS Landscape Viewer showing the Backlands.
I have had a few questions recently about the types of forests in the Backlands which prompted me to make some screen captures from the forestry layers on the NS Landscape Map Viewer. Those maps and some additional maps showing water flows & wetlands are posted on this website under Flora Fauna and Geology – DNRR Maps. (DNRR: NS Department of Natural Resources & Renewables).
The Nova Scotia Landscape Viewer is a convenient tool for viewing Crown lands, Protected Areas, Ecological Land Classification, Forest Stand characteristics, Property Boundaries & PID numbers, Roads, Wetlands and more. It provides a lot of the information otherwise only available via specialized GIS files and software. Continue reading
Land Ownership in the Backlands in
2016.The Clayton Developments
Ltd. property is now the Shaw
Wilderness Park. From Item
No. 14.1.8 Halifax Regional Council
Sep 20, 2016: Purcell’s Cove
Backlands – Shaw Group
/Nature Conservancy of Canada
Proposal
Click on image for larger version
The Backlands Coalition advocated for the protection of the area now named Shaw Wilderness Park and that advocacy was just the beginning. There is much more to protect in the Backlands, including wetlands, lakes and streams, a river, wilderness habitat for native plants and creatures of all sorts as well as trails for hiking and biking.
The map at right shows the many pieces of the Backlands, some protected, some Crown lands and some owned by developers
As members of the Backlands Coalition, we have been sharing information with the Halifax Planners about the special places within the Backlands. At this point in our talks with the planners, they are asking for as much concrete information as we can provide that highlights unique and special features or ways in which people use the Backlands.
Please look over the list below which outlines some examples of information we might use to amplify our message of protection for all parts of the Backlands.
Continue reading
Help protect one of Halifax’s most beautiful parks!Saturday, August 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Capacity: 20
With the support of our partners, Halifax Regional Municipality and Shaw Group Ltd, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has conserved 154 hectares of forest and jack pine barrens next to the Purcell’s Cove Backlands, at Colpitt Lake and Williams Lake. The property is home to more than 40 species of breeding birds and other wildlife, and just a short trip by car, bus or bike from downtown. Continue reading
