Waterville residents can go pick-your-own, family walks and sound explorations in the forest these days. Not enough to write a column, you 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 a.m.
Catherine St-Germain has lived in the small municipality of Estrie for 15 years. As she loves cross-country skiing, over time she asked a few residents if she could take their wooded lot for a walk. Then, she came to want everyone to enjoy these trails.
At the same time, the pandemic hit. While we were locked up at home, Catherine wondered how to reconnect her family to the benefits of nature.
1 + 1 made 2.
She would convince owners to open their backyards to the public and become coordinator of the Accès-Nature program.
“The first step was to get out the maps and find out who owned the big forests and private lands in the area. »
This is where it pays to live in a “small town”, explains Milène Richer, project manager for Accès-Nature. It was by banking on their network and asking friends of friends to play matchmakers that the duo approached the owners of the region…
“I had the chance to chat with a couple of seniors from my village that I had never met,” continues Milène Richer. I was able to walk in their forest with them, discover more about their history. I took the opportunity to ask them what could motivate them to open their land. And, above all, what were their fears about the project? »
Catherine St-Germain says the process required a lot of patience. It was important to know the limits and needs of those who were being asked for a right of way. To give them time to think about it, too…
Moreover, the same fear often returned to them: mayhem. This is because individuals were already coming onto their land — permission or not — and leaving sad traces there.
The Accès-Nature team therefore suggested creating a subscription. By becoming members at a cost of $10 per year (it’s free for children), people should agree to respect a code of ethics in which “intimacy” rhymes with “sharing territory”.
This year, 162 adults and 159 children accepted this pact, not to mention the many elementary students who took advantage of the private trails during their physical education classes.
On the owners’ side, in 2021, there were seven warm courtyards. This year, there are ten. But what do we have to gain by giving access to our land?
Catherine St-Germain talks to me about the pleasure of seeing the children and families of the village parade (“a real joy for the elderly”), but also about the management of the space.
The trails are defined in concert with the residents, so as to be the least disturbing possible.
“We can’t pass there because there’s a patch of ferns and it won’t grow back if we crush it?” Perfect, and if we pass by here? »
The path is marked with posters indicating which area is shared or not, which limits the movement of members. “I’m not saying it solves everything, but it brings awareness on the part of the public,” adds the coordinator.
Étienne Ricard is one of those who have agreed to open their court this year. Thanks to him, a rather busy road is now connected to large wooded areas. He admits 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 have means of getting around other than the paved streets. »
He admits that he still had some fears…
“To what extent am I going to be able to garden in undress? What happens if someone gets hurt? Will people respect the marked trails? Am I going to have my bike stolen? »
Finally, there is insurance provided in the event of an accident, no one has stolen anything and it always seems acceptable to garden in a bathing suit.
“No glitches! 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. »
A few Quebec municipalities have already introduced such a “trail” component. The Coaticook and Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley programs greatly inspired the Accès-Nature team, for example. Where she stands out is in the creation of workshops offered in parks and private yards…
For Milène Richer, they are an opportunity to rediscover knowledge that has been lost between two generations: “We live in a hyper-dynamic village with people who have a wealth of skills! For example, this summer, a citizen gave a workshop called Weeds on the plate, on his land. »
She brags to me about the nettle pesto she cooked that evening, then she tells me about the nature drawing workshops and the discovery of medicinal plants which also greatly interested the public…
And how many people could theoretically benefit from all this?
Catherine St-Germain replies that the initiative encompasses Waterville and the surrounding area, so it could affect nearly 8,000 people. It’s designed specifically for locals.
“We are not part of SEPAQ and that is not our intention! What I would find interesting, however, is that this project inspire other municipalities. »
His colleague Milène Richer takes the lead: “The heart of this project is to provide access to nature. We shouldn’t have to take our chariot or pay to escape. There is a social justice aspect to this. I would like it to develop more, too. »
Well, the idea is launched.