By Chris Hart
In October, the Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO), along with CBC Windsor, asked children ages four to 12 to make a short video about why trees are important. From those submissions, 10 children were selected to attend a Forest Walk with Diana Beresford-Kroeger around Ojibway on Monday, November 4th. I volunteered for this PIBO event, and after ensuring that each child (and their parents) had their safety and consent forms filled out, I was lucky enough to tag along. During the walk, the kids were treated with many informative facts, anecdotes and activities, all focused around the history, healing power, and overall wonder of trees. After listening to the ‘ocean sounds’ inside of a conch shell, Diana had each of the children place their ear against the trunk of a large tree in order to hear the subtle sounds of its metabolic processes. This was the first of many ways she had the children connect to their natural environment.
Over the course of the walk, Diana, who was escorted by MP Brian Masse, hosted several interactive discussions with the group of contest winners. The kids had a chance to name different types of animals that live in trees, and Diana followed that up with information on how animal-use is also beneficial to the tree. A prime example was her reenactment of how a raccoon rubs a paw paw seed in their claws, inadvertently providing it with a protective coating of grease to help with future germination.
Diana has a new book entitled To Speak for the Trees: My Life’s Journey from Ancient Celtic Woman to a Healing Vision of the Forest. This theme was very evident throughout the walk. She discussed the healing potential of a variety of local plants, ranging from the antioxidants within raspberries and blueberries, to the digestive powers of apples, to the circulation and stroke prevention benefits of sassafras. Diana also touched on the plethora of native trees that have anti-cancer qualities, and how their reduction, and in some cases, extirpation, in the area, paired with increased industrialization has had an impact on the health of the public. In between her lessons aimed at the children, Diana was more than willing to walk along and chat with parents about any local remedies that might benefit their suggested ailments. Diana has her own arboretum on her property in the Ottawa region. One of its many purposes is to propagate native plants with the intention of returning them to areas from which they have been extirpated.
Once the walk was completed, everyone gathered in the visitor’s center for nice lunch provided by the Mushroom Hub. Diana sat at a table with the children, which, compared to the crowds along the walk, provided a more casual setting for them to ask questions and tell their own stories. This was a pleasant end to a very informative and interesting event. Those 10 children were provided with a great experience to interact with a truly remarkable person. The knowledge and passion for nature that Diana shared with them that morning will hopefully lay the foundation for the next generation of environmental enthusiasts and activists.
To learn more about Diana Beresford-Kroeger, please visit www.calloftheforest.ca. For more information about PIBO, and their upcoming events, visit www.pibo.ca or find them on Facebook at Pelee Island Bird Observatory.