Thickson’s Woods Land Trust, Forty Years Protecting Nature

It’s surprizing how crucial a small remnant of wildlife habitat can be for migrating birds, butterflies, dragonflies and bats, plus humans hungry for the healing peace of nature in the midst of urban and industrial sprawl. Thickson’s Woods Nature Reserve in south Whitby harbours many species – 313 birds, 39 butterflies and more than 1,200 moths among them. White pines preserved for masts of wooden sailing ships for the British Royal Navy still tower above ironwood, yellow birch, black cherry, sugar maple and butternut trees in the 16-acre scrap of old-growth forest.

Across the Waterfront Trail, on eight acres of what was once some early settlers’ pasture and apple orchard, cucumber magnolia, Kentucky coffee and hop trees are now established, ready and waiting as global warming shifts Carolinian forests northward. This summer, 19 eastern flowering dogwood trees were added, planted and watered by student staff and volunteers, funded with help from Ontario Land Trust Alliance, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and many caring people. The battle against invasive garlic mustard and dog-strangling vine is ongoing, and we’ve just dug a pond for amphibians. Rewarding work to enhance a natural treasure.

Story submitted by Margaret Carney, Thickson’s Wood Land Trust Board member and one of the founders of the Thickson’s Woods Heritage Foundation. Photos by Otto Peter (left) and Dan Shire (right).

Join our upcoming webinars!

Ontario Nature's Protected Places team has spent the past year researching carbon assessments and how they can help us advance nature-based climate solutions. We met with carbon researchers, Indigenous community members, and conservation authorities to learn about nature-based carbon projects. As a result, we created “A Beginner's Guide on Measuring Carbon Stocks to Support Conservation,” to share these key insights with others. If you’re interested in learning about the guide, join us for a webinar on October 26^th at 2 p.m., where team members will speak about the guide's purpose, share stories about its creation and discuss the future of nature-based climate solutions in Ontario.

This project is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Federal Department of Environment and Climate Change, ECO Canada, Metcalf Foundation, the RBC Foundation, Bruce Power, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and an anonymous donor.

Join Kristen Setala, Ontario Nature’s Community Science Intern, on November 2^nd from 2 to 3 p.m. as she shares stories from her spring conducting surveys for the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. As part of Ontario Nature’s Protected Places Campaign, Kristen partnered with several groups across the province to conduct bird surveys in areas of conservation interest. From Wabakimi in northern Ontario to Wolf Lake in Greater Sudbury, you will hear about the significance of these areas, the groups working towards protecting them, and the birds that breed there. 

Durham Region Field Naturalists Pollinator Garden

The vision of a Durham Region Field Naturalists (DRFN) member living nearby, the Rossland Road Butterfly Garden (Oshawa) began in 2004, established on city property as a community partnership when Communities in Bloom was just beginning. Members of DRFN and Canadian Organic Growers happily donated plants for the first garden, plus their time and energy to design and fill the garden. By 2007, there were three gardens, the centre one designed as a butterfly-shaped ‘xeriscape’ garden. Today, it would be called a ‘pollinator garden’, as it’s a food source for many insects. It’s also designated a ‘Monarch Waystation’, and even appears on Google maps!

On a Saturday in May, DRFN members come to the garden(s) for spring cleanup and to plant some bright annuals under the ‘Butterfly Garden’ sign. These days, a huge butterfly milkweed (Asclepius tuberosa) flashes its neon orange flowers to passersby driving, cycling and walking by on the busy street.

Article by Dianne Pazaratz, DRFN, photos by Otto Peter, DRFN

Help Communicating Your Issue

Do you have a local conservation issue that fits our current priorities that you are trying to get the word out about and effect change? If you could use a little support from Ontario Nature, we may be able to help. We can work with you to provide contacts, resources, information, techniques and other campaign assistance. Our communications team may also be able to assist with social media and other promotions. Please contact Lesley, Nature Network Organizer, at lesleyr@ontarionature.org to discuss how we might be able to work together.

New Nature Network Primer

Interesting Links and Opportunities

• Did you see our blog on upcoming municipal elections? There’s lots of good information in there! Don’t forget to vote on or before October 24^th!
• Check out this new Report on financial benefits of nature.
• Watch the Sustainability Network’s Webinar Recent reports on biodiversity from Canada’s Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.

Events

See our calendar for a listing of events organized by Ontario Nature and Nature Network groups. 

To submit your public events for the online calendar, send them to noahc@ontarionature.org at any time and allow up to a week for posting. Please send only events that are open to the public and no more than three events per month.