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Prince Edward Island was once home to ancient hemlock and white pine trees shading deep freshwater streams flowing to the sea. Though black bears and lynx no longer ramble through our woodlands, there still are stunning examples of native forests in pockets across the province.
Healthy Acadian forests are profoundly diverse and unique ecosystems, with tree species that can live up to 450 years. They are rich in wildlife, from great horned owls to red-backed salamanders. These forests clean air and water, store carbon, provide excellent wildlife habitat and offer a myriad of recreational opportunities.
The World Wildlife Fund lists the Acadian Forest as one of six endangered forest habitats in North America.
In an effort to improve the health of our forests and create a model for environmental stewardship, Macphail Woods is launching the Restore an Acre initiative.
All donations will be used in the restoration of a 220-acre Public Forest on the Selkirk Road (Route #23) in Valley, part of the 2,000 acres we are managing for the provincial government.
You can mail a cheque (payable to Macphail Woods) to Gary Schneider, Box 11, Belfast, PEI C0A 1A0, or donate online through CanadaHelps.
While much of the forest has been degraded over the past two hundred years, your generous donation, will enable us to:
With your $200 donation per acre, you will receive:
Best of all, you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping to protect this extraordinary forest habitat now and for future generations.
CanadaHelps is a registered charity dedicated to increasing charitable giving across Canada. We do that by serving both donors and charities.CanadaHelps is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as CANADAHELPS CANADON, BN: 896568417RR0001
Since Macphail Woods began in 1991, the project has had an enormous environmental impact that has been both positive and far reaching. With over 20 years of experience restoring Island forests, we know what forest practices work and where best to put our effort. We work with nature as much as possible and try to use processes and plants appropriate to each site. Learn more about Macphail Woods and forest restoration…
Like most woodlands in Prince Edward Island, the Selkirk Road Public Forest reflects its cultural history. Part of the property was once farmed and has grown up in white spruce, other areas were never cleared and still contain beautiful large yellow birch and hemlock. These huge trees provide homes for barred owls and the rare pileated woodpecker. Along the stream running through the woodland, you can find three species of rare native plants – witch hazel, black ash and hobblebush. And in the spring the vernal pools are home to pickerel frogs and newts. The size of this woodland is important, as it is becoming increasingly rare within the province to find large blocks of forest.
On December 13, 2005, Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem announced that the Province has reached an agreement with the Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island to manage 800 hectares of public forest land (PFL) in southeastern PEI. Under the 10-year renewable lease agreement, the Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project in Orwell will use the lands to demonstrate sustainable forest management and restoration of our native Acadian woodlands.
The goal of this restoration work is to return these woodlands to high-value, long-lived native trees such as red oak, yellow birch, sugar maple, white ash, white pine, hemlock and red spruce – species that grow so well in our climate. The forest plantings will also allow us to increase populations of our rarest species – everything from round-leaf dogwood and yellow violet to ironwood and male fern. Over time, we will convert areas with low biodiversity into high-value forests with increased species richness and improved wildlife habitat.
Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research – 6 acres
Meinhard Doelle – 5 acres
Bryson Guptill – 1 acre – In honour of David Guptill, Beth Guptill & Joni Guptill
Peter Rukavina – 1 acre – In honour of Alex B. Campbell
Tom Lees – 1 acre
Alan McRae – 1 acre – In honour of John K. McRae
Marilyn Sparling – 1 acre – In honour of her children
“Wonderful project!…I love woods and forests and spend way too little time in one! Good Work! I am pleased with the opportunity to support this project.”
Carolyn Peach Brown – 1 acre – In honour of Douglas Brown
John Arsenault – 1 acre – In honour of Joe & Marina Muise
Gaie Orton – 1 acre – In honour of Dorothy Orton
Cathy Wilkinson – 1 acre
Thea Campbell – 1 acre – In honour of Scott, Colleen, Sophia & Beckett Campbell + Randy Campbell & Megan Burnside
“Thanks for regenerating our forests!”
Robert & Marsha Mann – 1 acre
“Keep up the good work !!!”
Mary Robinson – 1 acre
Robert Litke – 1 acre
Suzanne Copan & Jim Gormley – 1 acre
“Congratulations on a great project.”
Ruth DeLong & June Sanderson – 1 acre
Rob Sharkie – 1 acre
Boyd Allen – 1 acre
“This is our family’s Christmas present to ourselves. Every acre is a worthwhile step forward.”
Liz Townsend & Harry Robertson – 2 acre – In honour of the Townsends & Robertsons
Beth Hoar – 1 acre – In honour of Donna Sears
Anonymous – 1 acre
Darren Kenny – 1 acre – In honour of the Sharkie Family – Rob, Sherri & Maeryn
Colleen Easter – 1 acre – In honour of Charles Easter
Kent Sheen – 1 acre – On Behalf of the Holland College Industrial Technology and Trades Staff
Susan Norton – 1 acre – In honour of David Scales
Gordie Noye – 2 acres
Maxwell Newby – 1 acre
Michael Arfken – 1 acre – In honour of Corbitt, Scarlett and UPEI Ecopsychology 2014
Lou Richard – 1 acre
Scott Sinclair – 1 acre – For Kathie MacPhee and Deborah Sinclair
Ruth Richman – 1 acre
Ryan & Shauna Reddin – 1 acre – For Ryan, Shauna, Anna & Bronwen
John Burcombe – 1 acre
Gary Schneider – 1 acre – On behalf of Megan Poole
Grant Honeyman & Stephen Yarrow – 1 acre – In memory of Isabel “Belle” Honeyman and Arthur Yarrow
Donald Cameron – 1 acre
Alexander Anderson & Hope Sollows – 1 acre
Marion Copleston and Tony Reddin – 1 acre – A gift for Lindsey and Andy Reddin
Staff of PEI Family Violence Prevention Services – 1 acre
Ann Wheatley & Pierre-Yves Daoust – 1 acre
Sir Andrew Macphail Foundation Board and friends – 1 acre – On behalf of Doreen Huestis, Beth Hoar, Harry Baglole, Brian Grimmelt, John DeMarsh, Mary MacQueen Elliot & Melissa Mullen
Gerard Clarkes – 1 acre – On behalf of Henry John Clarkes McRae
Shelley MacEwen – 1 acre
Staff of Stewart McKelvey Lawyers – 2 acres
Allan Rogerson’s Grade Seven Class, East Wiltshire School with a contribution from a parent in memory of a loved one – 2 acres
Mt. Buchanan – Point Prim Women’s Institute – 1 acre
Lou Richard – 1 acre
Brenda Watts – 1 acre
“I have a vested interest in the forests of PEI, I make my living using the wood species that are becoming harder to find here. I applaud your efforts and I know that your work would be important to each and every person who purchases items made in my shop.”
Mitchell O’Brien – 1 acre – In honour of Steven Leslie O’Brien
Peter and Melissa Hooley – 1 acre
“Good luck! Have fun restoring this beautiful lot! Thanks for all the hard work!”
Sarah Margaret McPike – 1 acre – From Margaret McPike, Craig Jones, Erin Bateman and Dave Atkinson.
Michael Currie – 1 acre – In honour of Donald Currie
Don Mazer – 1 acre – On behalf of the Mazer Family
Brenda Watts – 1 acre
“Another acre on behalf of my shop and customers who love and appreciate wood as much as I do. Thank you for the opportunity to help with your wonderful work”
Salesforce Foundation – 3 acres – Donation match recommended by Salesforce employee Gordie Noye
Hannah and Adam Murray, Noah Opps, Sam and Molly Rainnie, Willie O’Grady and Daniel Ross – 1 acre – We are all participants in the Macphail Woods Sharing a Love of Nature camps
Jennifer Pitre – 1 acre
Jill MacCormack, Janice McGuigan, Jonathon McGuigian, Julie Love and Janeen McGuigan – 1 acre
David MacPherson – 1 acre – In memory of Mark MacPherson, an avid nature lover and lover of life in general.
Brenda Watts – 2 acres – On behalf of Etsy Canada and the wonderful participants in a Spoon Carving Workshop I held at my wood studio during Etsy Maker Cities that was held on PEI this summer.
Pat Honeyman – 1 acre – In memory of Belle Honeyman and baby “Morna”.
Adam Sandler – 1 acre
Leslee Sack – 1 acre
Robert Vollett – 1 acre
Liz Dacombe – 1 acre
A huge thank you to all who donated towards our restoration work. Your generous contributions are helping to restore over 3 acres of public land.
in memory of Angus MacLean
“Good luck on this project! I’m sure you will do a fantastic job with this land!”
In honour Laura Newton and Erica Newton
In honour of Suzanne Copan & Jim Gormley
Fungi, mosses & lichens