Sinharaja

Sinharaja (vergin rain forest of Sri Lanka)

Dense, dark, wet and mysterious - Sinharaja is a primeval forest for meditation, relaxation and for scientific exploration. This relatively undisturbed expanse of primary forest is a Sri Lankan heritage - the last patch of sizeable lowland evergreen Rain Forest still remaining more or intact or undisturbed in our island.

The forest is steeped in deep legend and mystery. The word Sinharaja means, lion (Sinha) king (Raja) and the popular belief it that the legendary origin of the Sinhala people in Sri Lanka is form the descendants of the union the lion king who once lived in the forest and a princess.

Today, the spirit of the legend remains captured in solitude in the silent forest and the rising mist of the early dawn. More than time however separates the modern explorer in the Sinharaja forest from its legendary inhabitants, man has rapidly penetrated the seemingly inaccessible wilderness of the Sri Lanka's rainforest which once covered perhaps over 100,000 ha. of the South Western hills and lowlands. The present reserve is but a glimpse of its former glory, occuphying a narrow silver of land 21 km. in length and 3.7 km. in width, covering 11187 ha. of undisturbed and logged forest, scrub and fern land. It was declared an International Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978, then a National Wilderness Area in 1988 under the National Heritage Site in 1989.

To the casual observer, the forest represents a tropical rain forest with a dense tall stand of trees, steep and rugged hills etched by numerous rocky streams and rivulets. The value of forests such as Sinharaja are well known for their functions as watersheds and store houses of great biological wealth. It is a rich treasure treasure trove of nature with a great diversity of habitats and a vast repository of Sri Lanka's endemic species found no where else in the world. Sinharaja therefore, represents an irreplaceable genepool, a refugia for all those rare and endangered forms of life, both fauna and flora.

Sinharaja forest reserve is one of the least disturbed and biologically unique lowland rain forest in Sri lanka. This forest covers an extent of about 11187 hectares from east to west .The length of the forest is about 21km and width from North to South is about 3.7km.It was declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) in 1978,as representative of tropical humid evergreen forest Eco system in Sri Lanka and has been recognized by UNESCO as part of it?s International Network of Biosphere reserves. It was declared a National wilderness area in 1988 and lately a world heritage site in 1989.It is situated in the southwest lowland wet zone of the country in the districts of Ratnapura, Galle and Matara. The average annual temperature of Sinharaja is 23.6 C. Annual rainfall is more than 2500mm.The rain fall is well distributed during two monsoons, May to July and October to December.



Flora of Sinharaja

The vegetation of Sinharaja may be described either as a tropical lowland rain forest or tropical wet evergreen forest.some striking characteristics of the forest are the loftiness of the dominant trees, the straightness of their bole, the abundance of regeneration and the diversity of species. Average height of the trees varies between 35m ? 40m.some individuals rise even upto 50m.The vegetation of Sinharaja is that of humid wet evergreen forest type with a high degree of endemism. In fact some families such as Dipterocarpaceae show an endemism more than 90%. The untapped genetic potential of Sinharaja flora is enormous.

Out of the 211 woody trees and lianas so far identified within the reserve 139 (66%) are endemic. Similarly, high levels of endemism are perhaps true for the lower plants like ferns, epiphyts as well.out of 25 general endemic to Sri Lanka 13 are represent in Sinharaja. The Total vegetation density, including trees, shrubs, herbs and seedlings has been estimated to be around 240,000 individuals per hectare, of which 95% comprise individuals of the ground layer bellow 1m in height.The density of trees, lianas above 30 cm girth at breast height, ranges between 600 ? 700 individuals per hectare while the number of merchantable individuals of trees of girth grater than 150cm ranges between 45-55 individuals per hectare.

Fauna of Sinharaja

Studies on the fauna of Sinharaja have revealed that there is a high degree of endemism among the butterflies, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are greater than 50%. There have been reports of sightings of a few animals in the eastern Secter.The most common deer species is the Sambhur The Monk deer and Barking deer are also found within the reserve. Leopards are very seldom sighted, but their frequent presence has been confirmed by tracks and other signs. Badger Mongoose and the Golden Palm Civet have been occasionally sighted. The most commonly seen primate is the Purple - faced Leaf Monkey.Although the elephants said to be common in the past, there have not been reports of sightings during the last 15 years.



Out of the Birds recorded in the western sector of the reserve, 72% were resident non-endemic and 13% migrants. One of the most interesting and colorful spectacles to be found in the in the Sinharaja is the presence of mixed species of foraging bird flocks, a phenomenon commonly found in rain forests total of 100 such flocks were systematically observed, and studies have revealed that some flocks contained 48 species including 12 endemic species. The rare endemic birds to be seen in Sinharaja are the Red-faced Malkoha, the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, the Ashy-headed Barbbler, and the White - headed Starling and the Green ? billed Coucal the rarest of Sri Lankan birds. The Agamids are the best represented group of reptiles, the most common being the Green Garden Lizard. Of Special significance are the sightings of Calotes Liolepis an arboreal species, the rearest of all agamids found in the island .The only Tortoise recorded in the reserve is the Hard - shelled Terrapin, while of the species of skinks, the spotted skink can be seen often. Among the snakes The Green Pit Viper and Hump-nosed Viper are commonly found in this forest and are endemic to Sri Lanka.
The amphibians are fairly well represented in the reserve and nine endemic species have been identified. The endemic Torrent toad and the common house toad. In most streams and marshes, the Wrinkled frog and The Sri Lankan Reed frog is also found in Sinharaja. Ramanella palmata a rare endemic species is the only microhylid recorded so far while the yellow-banded Caecilian is the only apodan recorded.
It is desirable that you, who visit the forest, be sensitive to the need to conserve forests such as Sinharaja.Contray to the chaos and congestion prevailing in urban areas, it is in forests that the quality of life is best expressed. In addition man finds peace and tranquillity in forest.
Allow yourself sufficient time to roam about within this nature?s green cathedral and enjoy its beauty and majesty whether you be a photographer, artist, scientist or a nature lover. ?Please leave it as you find it? is our humble request?


Vertebrate Group no. of spa. in Sri Lanka No. of sps. in Sinharaja % of sps. in Sinharaja No. of endemic sps. in Sri Lanka No. of endemic sps. in Sinharaja % of endemic sps. at Sinharaja % of endemics out of total in sinharaja.

Vertebrate Group	no. of spa. in Sri Lanka	No. of sps. in Sinharaja	% of sps. in Sinharaja	No. of endemic sps. in Sri Lanka	No. of endemic sps. in Sinharaja	% of endemic sps. at Sinharaja	% of endemics out of total in sinharaja.
Fish	59	11	19%	16	3	19%	27%
Amphibia	37	20	54%	19	10	53%	50%
Reptiles Snakes Tetrapod
	65	16	25%	34	6	18%	36%
	79	29	37%	38	15	39%	52%
Birds	384	147	38%	20	18	90%	12%
Mammals	85	39	46%	12	8	67%	20%
Total	709	262	36%	139	60	43%	23%

Cyprus wine

Cyprus was the first Mediterranean country to produce wine more than 5,500 years ago and since then wine and wine making has an intrinsic part of Cypriot life ever since. Many families run their own wineries and at this time of the year, more than 25% of the population is involved with the grape harvest. Even though there are 50 wineries in Cyprus today, Cypriot wines are little known abroad, but the Limassol-based Wine Products Council is trying to change the image of Cypriot wines with wine connoisseurs worldwide and to raise the profile other wines in the European market.

The Wine Products Council (WPC) is an independent semi-government organisation that was founded fifty years ago and has become increasingly important since Cyprus joined the European Union in January 2004. The Wine Product Council has several roles in Cyprus. The Council implements both EU legislation regarding wine production and the policy of the Cypriot government and advises local wine makers on new techniques and grape varieties that are suitable for cultivating in Cyprus and encourages them to produce top quality wines. The WPC also helps wine makers to promote and advertise their products effectively both on the home market and in the European market place.

The cornerstone for the success of the Cyprus wines is quality because they can never be as competitively priced as other wines simply because the number of bottles produced by each wine company is much smaller than the numbers produced by its European, Chilean and South African competitors. Historically, Cypriot wines were produced and sold in bulk abroad so consequently they were characterless and inconsistent in quality. Since 2004 however, the export of bulk Cypriot wines has dropped dramatically and winemakers have worked extremely hard to bring production methods in line with EU regulations, to stabilise the quality of their products and to develop unique characters for their wines. in many cases, this has been achieved by blending traditional indigenous grape varieties with imported varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Blanche, Chardonnay and Riesling which are all grown successfully in Cyprus. The results have been impressive. As well as developing the overseas wine market, members of the WPC have nurtured the home market and today’s trend is that 60% of Cypriots now regularly enjoy a bottle of wine.

Members of the Wine Products Council knew that they had to help local winemakers to get their wines right for the European market – and to ensure a consistent quality and that the best way to achieve this was by specifying the areas that could successfully produce the different wines. In turn this has led lead to a natural upgrading of all the wine types. This was achieved because the limitations of each area were fully researched and fully appreciated. Vines of certain varieties can now only be grown in certain areas, where they flourish and the best possible quality grapes can be cultivated.

With the help of various schemes - including financial assistance provided by the European Union - winemakers have been able to abandon the use of certain grape varieties that were not doing well in their particular area, adjust their production methods and convert to other grape varieties. A legal framework is now in place which monitors and regulates the production of new wines in these designated areas. These changes have led to the production of some new, exciting and really good wines in the different regions. The Cyprus government has given winemakers its full support in marketing these wines effectively with increasing success.

Local wine producers are striving for quality and are trying to be more competitive. The introduction of the annual Cyprus Wine Competition three years ago has sparked friendly rivalry between the wineries and almost every wine producer eagerly takes part in the competition. The major incentive is that wines are awarded medals and their producer can display the special ‘medal winner’ sticker on their wine labels. The organisers have been delighted with the success of the event and the interest generated in both the international and local press and the event has certainly raised the profile of local wines in the public eye. The Cyprus Wine Competition is gaining increasing recognition and the organisers hope that in years to come it will be as internationally recognised as the Thessaloniki wine competition, where several Cypriot wine producers also did particularly well again this year.

Certainly, there have been many challenges for Cypriot winemakers since the country joined the European Union, but thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of many, Cyprus wines are enjoying increasing popularity as wine lovers across Europe discover their quality and special character.

MAGE PUNCHI ROSAMALE

HORTON PLACE

HORTON PLACE
Horton Place is historically significant as the residence of two families who are identified with service to their community. Dr. Alfred Robinson's dental surgery in Horton Place served the community until shortly before his death in 1896. In 1901, Charles Webster, businessman and community leader, purchased the property. The Webster family and its descendants continue to own the property to the present day, preserving the historical and architectural continuity of the site.

In 1797, the Crown granted 210 acres of land to Thomas Phillips. Thomas Hind acquired the land from Thomas Phillips by deed poll in1803. Mr. Hind sold the township lot to Jacob Hollingshead in the same year. Robert Pen rose Irwin purchased 140 acres from the Hollingshead Family in 1853, and proceeded to subdivide the land.

In 1874 Dr. Alfred Robinson, a local dentist, bought 5/8 of an acre of Irwin's land on Yonge Street. Dr. Robinson was born in England in 1831. On coming to Canada he settled first in Bond Head before establishing his dental practice in Aurora in the mid1860's. He purchased the commercial property on the south-west corner of Yong e and Wellington Streets (2 Yonge Street South) for use as his surgery and moved his family into a house on Mosley. According to a notice in the Aurora Banner on August 28, 1868, Dr. Robinson was in his office in Aurora on the 1st and the 16th of each month. On other days he made his services available to other communities such as Newmarket, Stouffville, Richmond Hill and Nobleton. Dr. Robinson decided to purchase the land on Yonge Street just south of The Manor, at that time the residence and medical practice of Dr. Frederick Strange. Dr. Robinson's intention was to build a house on this land that would serve as both a residence and a dental surgery.

It is likely that the house and barn were constructed in 1875, as the Robinson family moved from their house on Mosley in February of 1876. It is interesting to note that families who were fortunate enough to have sufficient property and the proper facilities kept their own livestock. The Aurora Banner of January 8, 1886 tells us that Dr. Robinson has secured "one of the celebrated Jersey cows from the herd of Capt. Rolph, Glen Roche Farm." The family named their new home Horton Place, after the Robinson family's ancestral home in Yorkshire, England.

Dr. Robinson and his wife, Mary Martin, raised six children in Horton Place. Two of their daughters, probably Mary Henrietta and Ellen Louisa, ran a private school in the 1880's and 1890's. They also taught French and dancing. The Robinson's youngest, Roy, was sickly as a child and was schooled at home, probably by his sisters. Dr. W. John McIntyre, the current owner of Horton Place and local historian, advises that it was not uncommon for unmarried women to operate private schools at that time, often in their own homes. The blackboard used in the school is still in the house. Their daughter Annie married the manager of the Aurora branch of the Federal Bank, William H. Nelson, in 1886.

In 1884, Dr. Robinson changed the ownership of the house from his name to his wife Mary's. Dr. Robinson retained his office at Horton Place until his death after a year-long illness in 1896. He was buried in the Aurora Cemetery. Following Dr. Robinson's death, the dental facilities were leased to Dr. C. J. Rodgers. By 1897 he rented the residence as well until 1901, when the property was sold to Charles Webster.

Charles Webster was born in 1873 in Thorn hill, on a farm on Yong e Street. After his father's death, the family moved to Aurora. In 1899 he married Della Petch, born in 1875 in Aurora. The Aurora Banner of February 22, 1967 tells us that when Della Webster was a little girl she "dreamed of living in the 'house on the hill', owned then by Dr. Robinson the district dentist. Her dream came true and the gingerbread decked brick house was her home for over 60 years." Charles Webster notes in his diary that on November 2, 1901 they had their first meal and spent their first night in Horton Place. Charles and Della Webster had two children: Elinor Elizabeth, born in 1909 and Mary Margaret Adele, born in 1916.

Both the Websters were civic-minded people. Charles Webster served on town council, the Library Board, the Public School Board, and the Board of Trade. Della Webster was a prominent Liberal Party organizer for many years

Charles Webster was manager of the Under hill Shoe Factory for a short time. However, his longest association was as manager of the Fleur y Agricultural Implement Works on Wellington Street from the 1890's to his death in 1938. James Johnston in Aurora: Its Early Beginnings tells us that the Fleur y plow works, founded in 1859, was the most important industry in early Aurora, and was responsible to a large degree for the growth of the community. At the height of its success, it employed 200 men in its buildings located on Wellington Street West. The village fathers, grateful for the contribution the company made to Aurora business and development, honoured the company by including a Fleur y plow as part of the Village crest. Joseph Fleury the founder, born in King Township of French-Canadian descent, came to Aurora in 1859. Working as a blacksmith, he set up business in partnership with Thomas Pearson. Together they developed the cast-beam plow, but when the partnership broke up, Fleury built his own shop. His father, Alex Fleur y sold his farm and put the proceeds into his son's business. Joseph's brother Milton also came into what would become largely a family business. By 1900, Fleur y plows were competitive on a world basis. Many families moved to Aurora in order to work in the foundry. The company operated in Aurora until 1939, when it merged operations with Fleur-Bis sell, and moved to Elora.

Charles Webster owned the property until his death at 65 in 1938. He was killed while crossing the street in front of his home by a car travelling northbound on Yonge Street. Mr. Webster was buried in the Aurora Cemetery. Della Webster, his widow, assumed ownership of the property.

In 1950, Mary Margaret Adele, Charles and Della Webster's daughter, married William Ogilvie McIntyre, and along with Della Webster, lived together in Horton Place. Mary Margaret and William McIntyre had two children, William John (known as John) born in 1951 and Mary Elizabeth (known as Mary Beth) born in 1956. William McIntyre died in1974 and was buried in the Aurora Cemetery. Mary Beth lived in Horton Place until her marriage in 1983.

In 1984, Mary Margaret McIntyre, finding the house too much to care for on her own, moved out of Horton Place into a condominium nearby. Her son, Dr. W. John McIntyre moved back to his family home in the same year.

The Webster family and its descendants continue to own Horton Place to the present day. Following the death of Mary Margaret McIntyre in December 2000, Margaret's son, Dr. W. John McIntyre, assumed ownership of the residence and continues to live in the house.

Dr. McIntyre continues the Webster tradition of service to his community. He has served on the Aurora heritage committee (Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee) for about 15 years. The history of Aurora has been the subject of several books written by Dr. McIntyre. He has served on the Aurora Historical Society since about 1967, including several terms as president. Since 1985 he has been the archivist for Trinity Church, Aurora. While not involved in community service Dr. McIntyre is Chair of the Department of English and General Education, Faculty of Technology, at Seneca College.On March 4 1987, Horton Place was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act for its historical and architectural significance.