Tallest white pine at Gillies Grove
Gillies Grove is playing it safe while it recovers from Wednesday’s freezing rain.
The Nature Conversancy of Canada tells myFM that they’re closing down the Arnprior nature reserve to visitors until further notice.
The NCC’s conservation biology coordinator, Megan Quinn, says that the weight of the ice build up from last week’s storm has downed trees inside Gillies Grove and they are currently organizing emergency work to make the area safe for visitors.
She adds that warm weather expected to roll through during the Easter Long Weekend will cause trees and limbs to continue to fall and settle over the next few days, and they’ll have crews in to inspect the damage, confirm hazard trees, and clear the debris from Gillies Grove’s four trails as soon as possible.
Part of that inspection will be to determine if Ontario’s tallest tree, the iconic 47-metre-tall white pine nestled inside the Grove, is still intact.
In the meantime, caution tape and closure signs will be up along the Grove’s trails and the NCC will be working with the Town of Arnprior to barricade the area.
(written by Kasey Egan)