By Brandon Graziano

Christmas tree harvest in full swing at Prince Albert National Park

Dec 3, 2017 | 8:51 AM

Calls of ‘timber’ will echo through Prince Albert National Park in the coming weeks, as the site has embarked on its second Christmas Tree Harvest.

The event grants visitors the opportunity to chop down and bring home their very own tree for the holiday season.

Bronwyn Craig is a promotion officer with the park and asked would-be lumberjacks to follow a few rules when they participate.

“We would encourage you to bring your own axe. There are no chainsaws allowed. No snowmobiles either. Bring a sleigh and come out with the family and get out into that boreal forest and pick out that tree,” she said, noting a variety of Spruce, Fir and Pine trees are available to take home.

She asked those who want to take a tree check-in with the visitors centre in Waskesiu upon arrival to pick up a free tree permit.

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Though it may sound odd a National Park is encouraging residents to take trees as opposed to preserve them, the Christmas Tree Harvest actually helps clear out trees for the Waskesiu Community Fuel Break. This section of the Southern boreal forest is a critical fire management tool that helps limit wildfires in the area that could directly impact the community surrounding the park.

Park Ecologist Dustin Guedo said they started work on the fuel break 15 years ago and so far, it’s maintained success.

“Since that time, we’ve been doing annual maintenance of it where we’ve been going out and cutting out the trees that are most flammable, which are Spruce trees,” he said, adding the removal of these flammable trees helps the surrounding ecosystem thrive.

“It’s actually creating a new habitat which species which wouldn’t be able to thrive in a closed forest are now able to come in and thrive in that new niche area.”

The Christmas Tree Harvest, however, is just one of many events happening at Prince Albert National Park. As part of ongoing Canada 150 celebrations, a skating day, Indigenous programming and The O Christmas Tree Winter Festival are all on the schedule.

brandon.graziano@jpbg.ca

Twitter @brandongraziano