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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 6, 2008 - 5 More time to nominate your favourite tree By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The entry deadline for Oakville's second annual Great Heritage Tree Hunt and Photo Contest has been extended. Organizers recently announced that the hunt -- due to wrap up late this summer -- will now continue until the end of September, meaning there is still time for residents to nominate their favourite tree. This year's contest, launched by the Town of Oakville and the Oakvillegreen Conservation Association, has 16 categories, nine for tree nominations and seven for photography entries. The categories include: ·Favourite great tree more than 50 years old · Neighbourhood landmark · Best collection of trees · Orchard fruit-bearing tree · Best native tree for air quality improvement · Tree with the largest circumference · Tallest tree · Best story · Most kid-friendly tree Photography contest categories are: · Full tree shot · Bark · Leaves and branches · Fruit or nuts · Wildlife in trees · Best photo journal · Most kid-friendly tree "It's progressing slowly. We probably have the same number of entries as we had by this time last year," said Catherine Kavassalis, Oakvillegreen. "It's hard to get people out in the summer and usually they all come in right at the end." Despite the slow start, Kavassalis said entries are coming in, with a few living pieces of Oakville's history now in the running. "I just came across this silver maple tree that's right there on Lakeshore," she said. "I must have walked by it a dozen times. I hadn't realized the thing is five metres around." Kavassalis expects more tree nominations this year because the criteria for entries is less restrictive. "Last year we were looking for specific native species. This year it's a much more open category," said Kavassalis. "This allows people to enter a tree even if they don't know what it is. Last year, for example, we were looking for Eastern White Pine, so you had to know The categories include: ·Favourite great tree more than 50 years old · Neighbourhood landmark · Best collection of trees · Orchard fruit-bearing tree · Best native tree for air quality improvement · Tree with the largest circumference · Tallest tree · Best story · Most kid-friendly tree Photography contest categories are: · Full tree shot · Bark · Leaves and branches · Fruit or nuts · Wildlife in trees · Best photo journal · Most kid-friendly tree what an Eastern White Pine looked like. This year we're just asking for your favourite tree, so a lot more exotic species can get entered and this makes the contest more open to the novice tree lover." Kavassalis said the intent of the Great Heritage Tree Hunt is to raise people's awareness about the type of trees around them. This is essential when it comes to learning about Oakville's past, Kavassalis noted, as Oakville would never have been founded were it not for the Great White Oaks and Great White Pines that are here. The orchard trees present in Oakville also have their roots in history. "The first settlers that came to Oakville, one of the things they did was plant vast orchards of apples and cherries and pears," said Kavassalis. "There are remnants of these trees on some of the back streets that date back 150-200 years. Some people don't realize that they have in their yard a real piece of Oakville's heritage." In southeast Oakville, Kavassalis noted one can see rows of Norway Spruce, which were once used by farmers to divide their lots. "Now they tower between some of the homes in the area," she said. "They were planted in the 1800s and early 1900s." Besides getting a sense of history, Kavassalis hopes people will use the Great Heritage Tree Hunt to appreciate the ecological impact large trees have on the environment by cleaning the air, providing shade and attracting wildlife. The contest will also aid seed collection so the beauty Oakville residents enjoy now can be passed on to future generations. Last year, the Town collected seeds from Kentucky Coffee Trees and volunteers from the Oakville Horticultural Society and Oakvillegreen planted 500 of those seeds. Those seedlings will now be planted. "It's a very economical thing for the Town to do, plus it preserves the genetic heritage," said Kavassalis. "These trees are very well suited to this climate and they should grow better and last longer." By gathering the seeds of strong and healthy trees it is believed that the offspring will show similar resilience. The deadline for entries for the Great Heritage Tree Hunt is Tuesday, Sept. 30. A panel of judges will select winners from the tree nominations and photo submissions. The winners will be recognized at the Mayor's Heritage Tree Awards in late October. Information on the tree hunt and a complete list of categories and entry forms is available online at www.oakvillegreen.com. Only available at Hyundai of Oakville DON' T WORRY, BE HAPPY WITH A FREE CARIBBEAN CRUISE! 8-day CARRIBEAN Cruise for two, including airflight, transportation and taxes* with EVERY purchase of a 2008 Sonata. 2008 SONATA Cash Purchase Discount $ $5,150 GAS PRICE S GOT YOU DOWN? 5,900 + $750 loyalty** FREE! Simply cruise over to Hyundai of Oakville and take advantage of a $5,150 CASH PURCHASE DISCOUNT. 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