UTRCA Establishing New Prairie for Grassland Birds (UTRCA weekly, October 14, 2022) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has signed a 20 year agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to establish, maintain, and monitor 22.6 hectares of tallgrass prairie habitat for Eastern Meadowlarks and Bobolinks. These grassland birds are Species at Risk classified as threatened in Ontario. The new tallgrass prairies will compensate for habitat that will be lost due to highway improvements undertaken by the MTO in southwestern Ontario. MTO is providing the project funding and the UTRCA is providing the land, expertise, and project [...]

Two Celebrating Natural Connections events this month (UTRCA Weekly, October 7, 2022) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is hosting two more free Celebrating Natural Connections events this month! On Saturday, October 15, a family friendly event will be held at Hodges Pond. This day will include birds of prey shows by the Raptor Conservancy, species at risk display, guided hikes led with Woodstock Field Naturalists and UTRCA staff, kids’ activities led by Oxford Early ON, Wildlife Gardening, a nature art activity, and more. A new section of trail will also be officially opened to commemorate the efforts [...]

Planting with Partners in Stratford (UTRCA weekly, September 30, 2022) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) recently partnered with the City of Stratford’s Energy and Environment Committee to plant native grasses along the Avon River. The planting is at the corner of John Street and TJ Dolan Drive, at the end of the recently completed accessible pathway. In June, 200 Big Bluestem and 200 Little Bluestem were planted with plans for 100 more plants to go in the ground this fall. The long range plan is to plant along the entire 300 metre length of the pathway. In [...]

Celebrating Natural Connections events this weekend (UTRCA weekly, September 22, 2022) This weekend, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff and community partners are hosting free Celebrating Natural Connections events on Saturday and Sunday! Wildwood Conservation Area, Saturday, September 24 Saturday’s Celebrating Natural Connections event is at Wildwood Conservation Area. This free event will include: a stream exploration hike with UTRCA staff, Story Walk and activities by St. Marys Public Library, Stratford Field Naturalists, Wild ON Birds of Prey demonstration, displays about reptiles at risk, Indigenous Educator Patsy Day, wagon rides, and the Sunset Shack Food Truck (10 am [...]

Tree Power Keeps Growing (UTRCA weekly, September 9, 2022) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s (UTRCA) Tree Power program is growing! This popular program provides residents with affordable trees for their properties and is delivered via partnerships with municipalities and sponsors. Tree Power started in London 11 years ago, when the late Bill Kunz initiated a new tree planting program through his work with London Hydro. Bill brought his vision to the UTRCA and the Tree Power London program was born. Bill helped build the program, with the slogan, “Harness the power of trees by planting a native hardwood [...]

Looking back: Spring Tree Planting (UTRCA weekly, August 26, 2022) Despite two late snowstorms and several rainy days, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s (UTRCA) spring tree planting crew persevered and planted approximately 25,000 trees on 50 private rural properties. In addition to our crew’s efforts, 80 landowners planted another 13,000 trees on their own to improve the health of their land. Planting projects included windbreaks, retiring highly erodible land, and treed buffer strips along watercourses. The UTRCA was able to help most of the property owners receive grants to help reduce their costs. Brenda Gallagher managed the hand [...]

New Celebrating Natural Connections events kick off (UTRCA weekly, August 19, 2022) The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is joining with local community organizations and municipalities to host a series of 12 free “Celebrating Natural Connections” public events in natural spaces across the Upper Thames River watershed. The events include 10 public hikes and two virtual hikes, with activities, displays, and presentations. Local artists and municipalities are involved, as well as hiking, naturalist, and angler clubs. The events are an opportunity to explore the natural spaces that became so important for our communities’ physical and mental health [...]

New Accessible Trail at Wildwood Conservation Area! (UTRCA weekly, August 12, 2022) Two years ago, forward-thinking Wildwood Conservation Area (CA) staff proposed creating an accessible trail within the park. This idea is now a reality, as the Green Trail has been overhauled with a surface that will allow barrier-free use. The Green Trail is a 1.1 kilometre loop through the Dr. Murray Forest east of Campground B, with parking just north of the trail head. The trail’s gentle slopes and serpentine shape remain, along with the views of nature. Visitors are asked to be patient as the trail surface [...]

Schoolyard Pollinator Gardens (UTRCA weekly, August 5, 2022) Fanshawe Community Education staff and Integrated Watershed Management unit staff have been busy as bees helping five Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) schools plant pollinator gardens in their schoolyards! Heeman’s, a local garden centre, grew and supplied a variety of beautiful native plants for the gardens including coneflowers, blanket flowers, bee balm, and stonecrop. The gardens will provide needed habitat for local pollinator species that are experiencing steep population declines due to climate change, pesticide use, and invasive species. They will also be an ideal space for students to learn [...]

UTRCA staff Monitoring for Spongy Moth (UTRCA weekly, July 29, 2022) In mid-June, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff set up traps to monitor the population of Spongy Moth (formerly known as Gypsy Moth). Two traps were assembled in Fanshawe Conservation Area and four in Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs) in London. The UTRCA is conducting the research in conjunction with the County of Middlesex and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The larvae of this exotic forest pest feed on the leaves of oak, aspen, and many other trees. During a Spongy Moth outbreak, there can be so [...]