Mile End's Field of Possibilities gets new life after accidental bulldozing

A group of Mile End residents volunteered their time and hands to help give the Field of Possibilitiesa much-needed makeover after Canadian Pacific Railwayworkersaccidentally bulldozed the green space.

• CP Rail accidentally bulldozes Mile End's Field of Possibilities

The Field of Possibilities,better known as the Champ despossibles,sits near the corner of Bernard Streetand De Gasp Avenue in Montreal's Mile End neighbourhoodand has long been used as a park by nearby residents.

They were devastated when CP mowed down part of the space last year while working to build new tracks nearby, turning their park into a muddy mess.

The railway apologizedand agreed to pay to refurbish the park.

Now volunteers are out planting hundreds of shrubs to make the space green again.

RogerLatouris a naturalist and the vice-president of the groupLes Amis du Champ des Possibles.

"Everything we do, what we choose, is to be asusefulas possible to the native insects and native birds," he said, adding that there will be 40 varieties of plants blooming on site by this time next year.

He said the field is home to a number of species, including honeybees and Monarch butterflies.

Frdric Guindon likes to walk his dog, Abby, along the path near the train tracks.

He said often in the morning he sees birds feeding.

"There's a lot of flowers. In the summer it's pretty," he said.

He's glad to hear they're expanding the green space.

"It's perfect because this summer it was just muddy with the rain and everything, so now it's pretty great that they'll put some more green things here," Guindon said.