Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
A green belt for the city starts with Bert Wellman, Saskatoon Planning Department , who walked around Saskatoon’s perimeter choosing high spots of land for scenic beauty. Together with City Planner Bill Graham they worked on parkways and planted trees for the 1960 Circle Drive Parkway at these sites. Alfred Henry Browne “Man of the Trees” city Parks Superintendent – “The Man Who Made Saskatoon Beautiful” had a vision for Saskatoon – planting over 30,000 trees in the city. Wyndham Winkler Ashley local horticulturist, and founder of the parks board advocated trees, and dispersed tree seedlings. They all envisioned a green city.
1960 the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area lands were bought; parts of Sections 22 and 23 Township 36, Range 6 West of the third meridian, south of the CN Chappell yards
1972 sees drought resistant trees, Scotch Pine, Caragana, Elm, Balsam Poplar, Colorado Blue Spruce planted in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. In total 355 acres of afforestation areas were planted that year. In 1973, 355 additional acres are planted. Originally 2,300 acres were envisioned. 1972, A. L. Ligtemoet, Assistant Parks Superintendent sets before council that these first 660 acres of afforestation areas be kept in perpetuity.
1978 Oct 19 Name “Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area” brought forward to city council; Dec 28, 1978 proposed that the area become a park; Jan 2, 1979, this is recommended by council.
1985 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is dedicated June 15, 1985 in a ceremony
For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park
For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
For more information:
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map
Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail)
Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal using the e-mail friendsafforestation AT gmail.com, or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!
1./ Learn.
2./ Experience
3./ Do Something: ***
What was Richard St. Barbe Baker’s mission, that he imparted to the Watu Wa Miti, the very first forest scouts or forest guides? To protect the native forest, plant ten native trees each year, and take care of trees everywhere.
“We stand in awe and wonder at the beauty of a single tree. Tall and graceful it stands, yet robust and sinewy with spreading arms decked with foliage that changes through the seasons, hour by hour, moment by moment as shadows pass or sunshine dapples the leaves. How much more deeply are we moved as we begin to appreciate the combined operations of the assembly of trees we call a forest.”~Richard St. Barbe Baker
“St. Barbe’s unique capacity to pass on his enthusiasm to others. . . Many foresters all over the world found their vocations as a result of hearing ‘The Man of the Trees’ speak. I certainly did, but his impact has been much wider than that. Through his global lecture tours, St. Barbe has made millions of people aware of the importance of trees and forests to our planet.” Allan Grainger
“The science of forestry arose from the recognition of a universal need. It embodies the spirit of service to mankind in attempting to provide a means of supplying forever a necessity of life and, in addition, ministering to man’s aesthetic tastes and recreational interests. Besides, the spiritual side of human nature needs the refreshing inspiration which comes from trees and woodlands. If a nation saves its trees, the trees will save the nation. And nations as well as tribes may be brought together in this great movement, based on the ideal of beautifying the world by the cultivation of one of God’s loveliest creatures – the tree.” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker.
A beautiful place for Nature to just be Nature!
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It surely is, indeed. Thank you for your comment
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Thanks for joining me here in Oz. I have a soft spot for Saskatoon and Canada in general. So here is the reason and I’m sure my Grandfather would be happy about the Afforestation. There needs to be much more. Anyway a not completely true story but most is http://wp.me/p6LpSr-6U
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Saskatoon, surely is an amazing city. Amazing tale about your Grandfather indeed, thank you for sharing.
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I’m glad you liked it. Most of the story is true but I played around with it a bit.
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Beautiful for sure!
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Truly it is captivating! thank you for your comment
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I was born in Northbattleford, we lived there until I was eight. I remember the flat land and often the desperate cold, and my family are all from there originally. I remember Saskatoon as well. Really enjoyed the history of this piece.
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Thank you for stopping by!. It is a landscape and ecosystem like none other here on the prairies, and this urban regional park, is an amazing semi-wilderness wildlife habitat right in the city of Saskatoon, quite unbelievable, that the city is growing to 1/2 million, and still has a treasure as this.
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That is wonderful. It touches ones heart that some really care! I’m glad you write about it.
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What a wonderful tale of regeneration and of hope. It is so good to read such stories. Thank you for posting and for commenting on my blog. Now that I’ve found your very interesting blog I’ll follow it and read your posts more often.
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Your comment is so appreciated, it is truly a wonderful treasure here in Saskatoon. Thank you for stopping in to chat, and I, too will watch for your posts
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Such a wonderful place.
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Beautiful!
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Thank you very much!
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Beautiful photo of the fawn.
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Thank you ever so kindly
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🙂 thanks for the follow!
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A landscape so in contrast to my own but beautiful nevertheless. Thanks for visiting my blog.
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Thank you for your comment. It is truly amazing to visit sites worldwide to see the variety in landscapes. It is intriguing how wondrous they are.
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Afforestation is good for this planet earth, in order to still continue to protect our ozone layer. Meanwhile, it shouldn’t be only some parts of this world that are promoting this, all of us should be meaningfully involved.
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What an amazingly wonderful comment. Oh if this thought of yours could truly be shared worldwide!!!
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