2010-2011

News Release

REF NO.: 12

SUBJECT: MUN Botanical Garden damaged by Hurricane Igor

DATE: September 23, 2010

The effects of hurricane Igor have been felt at MUN Botanical Garden. The nature trails and flower gardens will remain closed for a few days due to damage incurred from the rain and winds on Tuesday.
“More than two hundred trees are down, and several areas of the trails have been washed out,” said Madonna Bishop, acting manager of the Botanical Garden. “We have been assessing the damage today and are now in the process of removing fallen trees and repairing the trails. Safety is our top priority, so it may take several days to clear up the mess.”
One area hardest hit was the Wildlife-Friendly Garden, a volunteer project of the Friends of the Garden.
Ms. Bishop noted that the field centre is open to the public, including the garden café, gift shop and art show. However, education programs, including the school program bookings, have been cancelled for the week.
“Sadly, we had to make the decision to pull out of the Doors Open St. John’s event, scheduled for this weekend,” said Ms. Bishop. “The garden has participated in this popular local event for many years.”
Other programs, including the “Breaking Ground” teacher training workshop scheduled for early October, should not be affected.
If the cleanup proceeds smoothly, it is hoped the flower gardens and some trails will open later this week. For the latest information on the Botanical Garden programs, please visit the garden’s website at www.mun.ca/botgarden or the garden’s facebook page “MUN Botanical Garden Inc.”, which also includes photos of some of the recent damage.
MUN Botanical Garden is a separately incorporated entity within Memorial University of Newfoundland and a non-profit charitable organization. More than 50 per cent of the MUN Botanical Garden’s operations (education, research and display) depend on external funding sources.

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