WARNER, Alta. — The County of Warner cannot be considered heavily treed. Its rolling prairie has wide expanses of cultivated farmland that allow clear views of the Milk River Ridge.
But it does have a forest, and an edible forest, at that.
Through the West Ridge Stewardship Project, a small forest, a wetland and walking trail have been established at the junction of Highways 506 and 844 where visitors can park, learn about habitat, zone-three plants and bird watch, or nibble on berries and other edibles.
At this time of year, with a late spring, the project attracts few visitors. But with the eventual arrival of better spring weather and ultimately summer, it’s a place where people can enjoy nature with few distractions.
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“It’s doing well,” said County of Warner agricultural fieldman Jamie Meeks.
The project is part of a 160-acre initiative on provincial crown land near Ridge Reservoir that includes a wetland, edible forest, shelterbelts and wildlife habitat. It had roots in practicality, said Meeks.
“We were trying to deal with nutrient loading in the reservoir, reduce the nutrient loading, so that all started by putting these cells in and trying to slow the water down before it hits the reservoir and let the plants use the nutrients.
“From there we decided to continue on and establish an edible forest. An edible forest provides a low maintenance, sustainable food source while offering biodiversity and carbon credits.”
The forest occupies about one-third of an acre and was planted in 2016 to a variety of trees, shrubs and herbs. It is protected by a deer fence and is locked at present with a code entry that visitors can request for access.
The site has drip irrigation and plant losses have been less than one percent each year, said Meeks.
The forest and wetland project is part of a larger plan called the Milk River Ridge Reservoir Water Quality Stewardship Initiative.
The 14-kilometre-long Ridge Reservoir allows irrigation of 46,000 acres in the county and supplies drinking water to the communities of Raymond, Stirling, Warner, New Dayton and Wrentham, as well as six water co-ops, four bulk water stations and numerous rural residents.
Ensuring water quality is an important goal for the county and it is working with Alberta Environment and the Alberta Conservation Association on initiatives that foster water quality protection.
The forest project is part of plans to create a healthy vegetated buffer around the reservoir, which also requires co-operation from landowners.
In a presentation, Meeks said the entire initiative is being studied to see whether it should be applied to other reservoirs. Other aspects include fencing the reservoir corridor, seeding permanent cover, tree and shrub planting, off-site livestock watering systems and regular water monitoring.
Meeks said the variety of plants in the edible forest might also raise public awareness of their range and hardiness in the Chinook region.
