Today, Waterville residents can pick their own, take family walks, and explore sounds in the woods. Not enough to write a column, tell me! Yes but no. It is that these activities will take place in the private courtyard of one of their neighbors …
Posted at 8:00 am
Catherine St-Germain has lived in the small community of Estrie for 15 years. Since she loves cross-country skiing, over time she asked a few local residents if she could go for a walk on her forest property. Then she wanted everyone to enjoy those trails.
At the same time, the pandemic struck. While we were cooped up at home, Catherine wondered how she could reconnect her family with the benefits of nature.
1 + 1 made 2.
She would persuade owners to open their backyards to the public and become the coordinator of the Accès Nature program.
“The first step was to get out the maps and find out who owned the large forests and private properties in the area. »
It pays to live in a “small town” here, explains Milène Richer, Accès-Nature project manager. Banking on their network and asking friends of friends to play matchmaker, the duo reached out to the region’s owners…
“I had the chance to chat with some seniors from my village that I had never met,” Milène Richer continues. I could go into their forest with them, learn more about their history. I took the opportunity to ask her what could motivate her to open up her country. And above all, what fears did you have before the project? »
Catherine St-Germain says the process took a lot of patience. It was important to know the limitations and needs of those being asked to give way. So that they too have time to think…
Also, the same fear often returned to them: chaos. That’s because individuals have already come to their lands — with permission or not — and left their sad mark.
The Accès-Nature team therefore suggested creating a subscription. By becoming a member at $10 a year (free for kids), people should agree to respect a code of ethics where “intimacy” rhymes with “territory sharing.”
This year, 162 adults and 159 children have accepted this pact, not to mention the many elementary school students who used the private trails during their physical education classes.
On the owner side, there were seven warm courtyards in 2021. This year there are ten. But what do we have to gain by allowing access to our land?
Catherine St-Germain talks to me about the joy of seeing the children and families in the village parade (“a real joy for the elderly”), but also about the management of the space.
The paths are laid out together with the residents in such a way that they cause as little disruption as possible.
“We can’t go through there because there’s a patch of fern and it won’t grow back if we crush it?” Perfect, and if we come over here? »
The path is marked with posters indicating which area is shared or not, restricting members’ movement. “I’m not saying it solves everything, but it brings public awareness,” adds the coordinator.
Étienne Ricard is one of those who have agreed to open their court this year. Thanks to him, a fairly busy road is now connected with large areas of forest. He confesses to me that he was sold in advance: “I am a designer and builder of ecological houses, then I worked on the development of an eco-district. It’s important to me that we can move around in a different way than on the cobbled streets. »
He admits he still had some fears…
“To what extent will I be able to garden naked? What happens when someone gets hurt? Will people respect the marked trails? Will my bike be stolen? »
Finally, there is insurance in case of an accident, nobody stole anything and it always seems acceptable to garden in a bathing suit.
“No disturbances! he summarizes. It didn’t take long for the passage to be used, it clearly fills a need. And it’s very satisfying to see the happiness it generates. »
Some Québec communities have already implemented such a “trail” component. For example, the Coaticook and Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley programs have been a great inspiration for the Accès-Nature team. Where she stands out is the creation of workshops offered in parks and private courtyards…
For Milène Richer, they are an opportunity to rediscover knowledge lost between two generations: “We live in a hyperdynamic village with people who have a wealth of skills! For example, this summer a citizen hosted a workshop on her property called Weeds on the Plate. »
She brags to me about the nettle pesto she cooked that night, then she tells me about the nature sign workshops and the discovery of medicinal plants, which the audience was also very interested in…
And how many people could theoretically benefit from it?
Catherine St-Germain responds that the initiative covers Waterville and the surrounding area so almost 8,000 people could be affected. It is specially designed for locals.
“We are not part of SEPAQ and that is not our intention either! However, I would find it interesting that this project inspires other municipalities. »
His colleague Milène Richer is in charge: “Access to nature is at the heart of this project. We shouldn’t have to take our chariot or pay to escape. There is a social justice aspect to this. I would also like it to develop further. »
Well, the idea has started.