Ellice Swamp

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to visit the vast expanses of forests, swamps, marshes, and remnant bog habitats of Ellice Swamp just north of Stratford, you’ll understand what a special place it is. At approximately 1,100 hectares, Ellice Swamp is the largest remaining natural area and wetland in the Upper Thames River watershed. It is recognized as a significant groundwater recharge zone and Environmentally Sensitive Area in Perth County, and much of it is designated as Provincially Significant Wetland by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The swamp provides habitat for a high diversity of species including several provincially and regionally rare plants and wildlife.

Unfortunately, historical land uses in the early 1900s such as peat extraction operations, alterations to natural drainage for agriculture, and timber harvest have caused lasting ecological issues and changes to the natural vegetation communities. One particularly challenging problem has been the spread of invasive Glossy Buckthorn throughout the swamp. Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Lands staff have been battling back for the last few years by managing this aggressive species to allow diverse, native vegetation to return to these once infested areas.

In the fall of 2025, staff established 16, 5m x 5m plots. All the buckthorn in the plots was treated with herbicide and manually pulled to eradicate it from those areas. In April 2026, staff removed the dead, woody brush and planted them densely with native trees and shrubs that will benefit local wildlife and help to compete with the regenerating buckthorn remaining in the seedbank.

Species planted in each plot include:

• Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
• Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
• Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
• Common Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
• Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
• Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
• Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
• Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
• Smooth Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)
• White Birch (Betula papyrifera)
• Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
• Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)

UTRCA staff will continue to manage these plots until the native species mature, with the intent of establishing pockets of seed-producing native vegetation that can spread to adjacent areas in the swamp. This method of utilizing plots to eradicate buckthorn and densely plant native vegetation is aligned with the most current invasive species research and best management practices. The plots will be monitored over the coming years to gauge success and, if successful, there are plans to continue planting additional plots throughout Ellice Swamp in the future.

For more information on Ellice and Gads Hill Swamps, please visit the UTRCA website.