Reviving a blackened landscape

Published on June 26, 2014

It wont be long before the trees are taller than she is, but Molly Head, daughter of Gord and Allison Head, is eager to get started on tree planting. Check out the June 30 edition of The Aurora for more photos.

Photos by Ty Dunham/The Aurora

Published on June 26, 2014

They may be small now, but Thomas Dawe, Darren Dawe and Sherry Dawe knows each tree makes a difference to the scorched land.

Photo by Ty Dunham/The Aurora

Off the Trans-Labrador Highway, about 15 minutes outside of Labrador West, is a long stretch of dirt road entering Blueberry Hill, which begins with bright green trees and gradually turns into black ground with the charred remains of last years devastating forest fire.

A car that looks like it aged 1,000 years sits on a lot, the interior burnt and tires disintegrated. Rubble is all that is left of some cabin sites, while newly constructed dwellings stand out against the dark landscape.

Standing in the forest, its easy to see far down where greenery used to block vision in just a few feet. Walking over soot and scraping across the branches leaves black marks against clothing.

But the Labrador West Boy Scouts, Beavers, Girl Guides and Blueberry Hill cabin owners didnt seem to mind. Spreading out through the trees, their coloured jackets and shirts brightly contrasted against the landscape as they dug holes and filled them with infant black spruce trees.

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Reviving a blackened landscape