Queen Elizabeth Park
Tree Management Plan

FACT SHEET

View corridors to be restored
(Click thumbnail for larger image)


Trees to be removed from Bloedel
Conservatory Plaza and Anniversary
Garden Lookout view corridors.
Eight trees in a third view corridor
(Large Quarry Lookout) will be pruned.
(Click thumbnail for larger image)

Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest point in the city at 153 metres (501 feet) above sea level. It has long been a favorite location for viewing the City and the surrounding area, for residents and tourists alike. In recent years, the trees have largely obstructed the view to the downtown core. The Tree Management Plan balances the management of the trees with regaining the diminishing view. The Plan was approved by the Board on July 7, 2008.

Why has the Park Board approved this plan?
The objective of the plan is to restore views from the three north facing view corridors from QE Park. Many people visit the park to look at the views. This was the second most important reason for tourists and third most important reason for residents according to two surveys conducted by a consultant team in 1999. Since that time the views have been further blocked by continued tree growth.

How many trees will be removed?
Approximately 70 trees will be removed in order to restore views from the two principal lookouts. Eight trees in the third view corridor will be pruned.

Can't the trees be topped instead?
No. Topping trees is a poor practice which is detrimental to tree health and one that increases risk to the public in the long run. It is proposed that lower lateral branches of eight large Douglas firs be removed to create a view towards the northwest from the Large Quarry lookout. This pruning will not be detrimental to these trees.

What will be done about nesting trees?
The Board will hire a registered biologist to assess all trees prior to removal. Removal of trees containing nests will be delayed until the nesting season has passed.

What kinds of trees will be removed?
Most of the trees are common species. These include five species of pine (Ponderosa, Scots, Austrian, Jack, western white), Colorado blue spruce, western red cedar, vine and bigleaf maple, choke cherry, weeping birch, Pacific dogwood, and horse chestnut.

Are any of the trees to be removed rare or endangered in the wild?
No. All trees slated for removal include species which are well represented elsewhere in QE Park as well as in local parks and public and private gardens. No rare or endangered trees will be removed.

Will any commemorative trees be removed?
No. All trees planted to commemorate events or persons are located outside of the view cone areas and will be preserved.

Will all trees be removed from the three view corridors?
No. This plan will only affect the trees nearest the lookouts. Most of these trees are planted on a ridge directly below the lookouts. Many were planted in plantation-style blocks and their crowns have since grown together to create a hedge-like mass obstructing the views.

How big are the trees to be removed?
Most of the trees to be removed are from 6 to 18m (20 to 60 ft) high.

When will the trees be removed?
Non-nesting trees will be removed beginning in early Summer 2008. Trees with nests will be removed when the nesting season is over, after mid-August 2008.

How long will it take for the trees to be removed?
Tree removal will take about seven to ten working days. Work will be done between 7:00am and 3:30pm, Monday to Friday. Noise should not be of concern to residents due to the distance of the trees from nearby homes. Park visitors near the lookouts may hear chainsaw noise for periods of time while the work is in progress.

Will the large conifers planted in the Arboretum near Park Drive be affected?
No. None of these large trees will be pruned or removed. The objective is to open up the view corridors by removing a limited number of trees blocking the foreground of the view corridors. The goal is to restore partial views from the summit of the park; we are not aiming to recreate a 360 degree panoramic vista from the top of the park.

Will new trees be planted to compensate for those that are removed?
Yes. Two trees will be planted to replace each removed. About a third of the trees will be planted in the areas where trees are taken down near the lookouts. The remaining compensatory tree plantings will be made in grassy open non view-sensitive areas of the park, using primarily native species (e.g. Douglas fir and Western red cedar) to create new forest habitat.

What kinds of trees will be planted to compensate for those removed?
Trees removed from the lookouts will be replaced with species attaining a maximum mature height of 5-10m (15-30 ft) high. This will ensure that the new trees will not block the views in future. Replacement trees will be chosen for year-round beauty, adaptability to our Vancouver climate, and wildlife value. Suggested species include Kousa dogwood, saucer magnolia, hawthorn, vine maple, Hinoki cypress, silk tree, crabapple, Japanese maple, etc. In addition, understorey shrub plantings will be made to re-vegetate and beautify the areas where trees are removed using rhododendrons, azaleas, cotoneaster, camellias, and other flowering and fruiting shrubs to provide cover and food for wildlife.

When will tree replanting be done?
New trees will be planted in the fall and winter of 2008-09 when conditions are ideal for new trees to become established (i.e. cool and wet weather). Work will begin in late October, and will be completed by January 2009.

How much will the plan cost?
Cost for approximately 140 replacement trees and 80 shrubs is estimated at $21,350. Costs for labour and supplies to remove and plant replacement trees and shrubs will be absorbed by the operating budget by reprioritizing our work.

This Plan couples view restoration with replanting to result in a net future increase in park tree cover and biodiversity. The plan will protect one of the park's principal assets by restoring the view corridors. Replanting the areas directly below the lookouts with lower growing trees will beautify the landscape and ensure that views are retained for future generations.

Photos

Panoramic view from 40 years ago	Peek-a-boo view of downtown
View to the northwest blocked by tree growth	View from Anniversay Garden lookout partially blocked by pine and other trees

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