Preserving a legacy — Forest conservation at Vimy and Beaumont-Hamel
Thousands of Canadians and Newfoundlanders went to France to serve during the First World War. Many never returned. More than 100 years after the war, the forest and trees surrounding the Canadian National Vimy Memorial and the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial in France have come to represent renewal and peace. It is our duty as Canadians to ensure the sustainability of these two sites for future generations.
Each year until 2031, we will work on different areas of the sites, repeating the steps below:
- Develop forest management plan
- De-mine selected planting area
- Scan area with a metal detector and mark areas with notable metal readings
- Carefully dig area to uncover metals, such as wire or grenades or shells
- Remove, and work with local authorities, to securely dispose potential explosives
- Prepare the planting areas
- Rejuvenate the forest areas, including removing diseased trees in planting areas through soft logging practices
- Plant new trees in selected areas each year
- Monitor and manage the health and growth of the replanted trees
Visit veterans.gc.ca/VisitMemorialsEurope for ongoing project updates.
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