Summer Conservation Area Educational Events Recap  As another summer comes to a close, it’s time to highlight the many exciting and educational events that took place at Fanshawe, Wildwood, and Pittock Conservation Areas (CAs) throughout the season. In July and August, we welcomed over 400 participants across 20 public events. Attendees of all ages got to experience the joys of nature, from late night hikes to mornings of bug [...]

SOARR Celebrates Most Successful Season The Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR) Program, part of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), is celebrating its most successful reptile incubation season to date, with a record 984 nests incubated in 2026, surpassing the previous record set in 2025 by approximately 200 more nests.   The nests represented seven species of turtles and one species of snake. By the end of the field [...]

Turtle Education Program Sponsored by Nature London Thanks to the generous support of Nature London, our Community Education team has expanded the Turtle Education program, which has reached over 3,000 people since August 2025. This initiative highlights the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s ongoing turtle conservation efforts through both school programs and community events. The classroom component has engaged more than 77 students in grades [...]

Fall Prep: What You Need to Know about Drinking Water Sources and Septics As summer comes to an end and fall approaches, it’s a good time to prepare your property for changing weather. Heavy rain, falling leaves, and cooler temperatures can all affect your water supply and septic system. A little fall maintenance can help prevent bigger problems during the winter and protect your drinking water for the seasons [...]

Soil Health Tour at Thorndale Demonstration Farm Our Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Stewardship Team recently hosted a highly informative Soil Health Tour at the Thorndale Demonstration Farm for 35 attendees.  Established in 2021, the Thorndale Demonstration Farm showcases how agricultural best management practices (BMPs) can improve and protect soil health and water quality while maintaining productivity in the southern Ontario landscape. Agricultural Stewardship staff kicked the day [...]