Nanaimo artist Charlie Pickard stands next to the "Welcome Tree" he crafted this year, installed at Neck Point Park recently, to replace the popular "Giving Tree", which was knocked down during a November 2024 windstorm. (Submitted)

By Jordan Davidson

welcome back

‘Rebirth of the area:’ Nanaimo’s Neck Point Park Welcome Tree returns

Jun 11, 2025 | 5:30 AM

NANAIMO — Part of the restoration project at Neck Point Park was recently completed, much to the delight of the man responsible for bringing a bit of magic to the popular Nanaimo park.

A November windstorm caused widespread destruction, bringing down dozens of trees, including the beloved “Give a little, take a little” gnome/fairy door tree, created by local nature artist craftsman Charlie Pickard.

Working together with the City of Nanaimo, Pickard was tasked with crafting a replacement “Welcome Tree”, which was recently installed at the park on a trail near Annie Clark Way, now known as Fairy Lane.

“I just felt such a relief that I would finally get it out, and the kids would have something to revisit. And you can’t see it from the other road, and that was intentional. You gotta go and look for it. That’s part of the magic, to find it,” Pickard said of the new addition.

The newly installed Welcome Tree, located along Fairy Lane in Neck Point Park. (Submitted)

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Pickard found the perfect tree on Denman Island, and with the help of a few friends, cut out a suitable-sized section of the tree and brought it back to Pickard’s Brechin Hill workshop.

He spent several months designing and shaping the Welcome Tree before City crews placed it at its new home last week.

Several gnome doors elsewhere in the park needed to be repaired following the windstorm, something Pickard does regularly.

An avid walker at Neck Point Park, Pickard said it was tough seeing the aftermath of Mother Nature’s wrath when multiple trees were uprooted, especially his beloved Giving Tree.

“It’s a wonderful park, it’s all natural. After the tree came down, it was pretty devastating to walk down. But with the restoration, they’ve cleaned most of that up. It’s just almost a rebirth…of the area.”

Pickard next to the downed Giving Tree after the November 2024 windstorm which devastated many trees across Vancouver Island. (Submitted)

Pickard said the Welcome Tree will feature several fairies in the windows, visiting ‘Owen’, the gnome located inside, named after Pickard’s father.

He said he does it all for the joyful expressions seen on children’s faces as they race from tree to tree, searching for the doors.

“People ask, ‘why do I do this?’… I love crafting, installing and maintaining the gnome and fairy doors in the park. It brings me pleasure and great joy knowing that children, when visiting them, will enjoy a few moments of magic in their lives.”

Several local businesses also donated materials such as paint and door hinges for the project.

Also included in phase one of the restoration project were the planting of over 45 new trees and 300 plants added by the parking lot and washroom building, thanks to efforts from École Hammond Bay students, the Nanaimo Area Land Trust and City staff, according to a City news release.

New walking paths were forged using debris from the windstorm, along with interpretive signs to guide visitors.

The City asks visitors to the Welcome Tree to enjoy the tree and take photos, but don’t leave any non-organic material behind and stick to the trails to maintain the park’s natural beauty and environmental integrity.

Future plans for Neck Point Park include efforts to remove invasive species, add more native plants, and install environmental fencing to protect sensitive areas, according to the City.

Another planned project this year is to pave the park’s gravel parking lot.

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