Achievements

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TRAIL MAINTENANCE & PROJECTS

Ausable River Valley & Mystery Falls

• Fixed boardwalks and stairs at the falls
• Installed a footbridge across a large crevasse and adjusted blazes
• Cleared fallen trees and branches

Port Franks Heart of the Trails & Huron St Portage

• Pruned Red Buds at Circle of Life
• Spread mulch around trees
• Put in dock at Huron Street
• Reattached head of turtle at Heart of the Trails
• Added slip strips on Huron Street ramp to floating dock
• Cleaned trailhead
• Wiped down panels at trailhead
• Installed fishing line dispensers
• Cleaned and attach stickers to fishing line dispenser
• Rebuilt bench, weeded, trimmed, and add garden edging around benches
• Fixed holes in bench
• Installed YNC post
• Installed horse signs
• Pulled in dock
• Installed post with portage signs at Huron St emergency dock side
• Caulked Helping Hands sculpture
• Removed owl carving to storage after tree fell on it

Ausable River Cut Conservation Area

• Extended fence at top of dune 
• Secured trail closed sign at top of Dune
• Boardwalk extension build
• Added wood slip strips on boardwalk extension
• Raked sides of accessible path
• Dismantled, refurbished and reinstalled entrance sign
• Installed fishing line dispensers
• Cleaned and attached stickers to fishing line dispensers
• Installed iNatualist sign
•  Installed YNC post
• Remediated 2 vandalized Storywalk tops
• Put in dock and widened ramps
• Painted wind phone directional signs
• Trimmed parking lot entrance 
• Fixed rope and sanded and stained handrail
• Replaced broken StoryWalk post 
• Trimmed wind phone path
• Took out dock
• Periwinkle remediation
• Dune Grass planting

Forest Trails

• Install YNC post
• Clean vegetation at trailhead
• Wipe down panels at trailhead
• Clean pollinator boxes and add more flowering plants
• Add garden edging at trailhead
• Move railroad ties from Thedford
• Trim the Grand Trunk Trail past the bridge
• Install additional bollards at Frances Dr entrance and paint yellow
• Install train switch
• Clean train birdhouse
• Caulk log at trailhead sign

L-Lake

• Trim the trail
• Install new map sign and move bench closer to path
• Clear fallen tree
• Inspect trail for wind damage

Ipperwash Dunes & Swales

• Refurbished 4 boardwalks including support log replacement and widening

Lambton Centre

• Blazed and trimmed the Wilderness trail
• Blazed the Children’s Centre trail
• Blazed the Haven trail
• Cleaned up the map and added a blaze information and a disclaimer 

AWARENESS & ENGAGEMENT

•  LSNT was deeply honoured to receive the “Conservationist of the Year Award” from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. This recognition affirms the collective dedication of our board, volunteers, community partners, and supporters, whose efforts make this achievement possible. Guided by the coordination of Nathan Schoelier, our ongoing partnership with ABCA continues to strengthen initiatives that not only safeguard our natural areas but also ensure they remain welcoming and accessible to all who cherish nature.
• We were honoured to be invited to the annual gathering of the Lambton Rural Game Protective Association (LRGPA), where we shared a presentation highlighting our work on the Grand Trunk Trail in Forest. Established in the mid-20th century by local hunters and landowners, LRGPA has long been dedicated to conserving natural resources, preserving its legacy through publications such as Fishers, Hunters and Game Wardens of Lambton County.
• This year, LSNT established a new landowner partnership with Lambton Centre, a not-for-profit organization in Lambton Shores that encompasses 105 acres along the Lake Huron shoreline. The property offers visitors the chance to experience Carolinian forest, a ravine woodlot, and more than 5 km of trails. The Lambton Centre board is enthusiastic about collaborating with LSNT—not only to draw on our trail expertise in blazing, map kiosks, and footbridge development, but also to enhance the promotion and enjoyment of their trail network.
• The Municipality of Plympton-Wyoming has launched a project at its Highland Glen property on Lakeshore Road to formalize a trail network. As part of this initiative, we were invited to present to their Parks & Recreation group, providing an overview of our mission and activities. With work already underway to improve and expand the trail system, the municipality has asked LSNT to review their progress and share feedback and recommendations to help guide the project.
• LSNT joined 25 students from North Lambton Secondary School for guided hikes across three trail networks: Ipperwash Dunes & Swales, Heart of the Trails and Heritage Forest, and Mystery Falls. Along the way, students explored the unique features of each property and gained insights into topics such as dunes and swales, forested dunes, tree burls, boot brushes, native artwork, the circle of life, the Seven Grandfather Teachings, the use of what3words, fossils, and the many contributions of our dedicated volunteers who help maintain and enhance these trails.
• We were invited to participate with the Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group as they welcomed graduate students and professors from the University of Toronto’s Conservation and Biodiversity Program. Representatives from ABCA, NCC, First Nations Phragmites Control, LSPCG, the Invasive Phragmites Control Centre, and LSNT each provided brief presentations, followed by site visits to management project areas in Port Franks, KSPFN, and Wood Drive.
• We hosted a free community event at the Kineto Theatre in Forest, featuring the inspirational hiking film The Long Start to the Journey. The evening provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with trail supporters, and we extend our gratitude for the generous donations received, which will directly support ongoing trail projects.
• A new partnership was established with the Bayfield River Valley Trail Association (BRVTA). Following a spring meeting, LSNT and BRVTA co-hosted a hike at the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area and Ipperwash Dunes & Swales. While each organization maintains trails within the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority watershed, our mandates and environments differ. Nevertheless, we share a common passion for promoting, maintaining, and protecting local nature trails.
• Board members from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, and Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy toured the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area as part of a day-long property visit. LSNT guided the group, showcasing improvements made by our dedicated volunteers over the years, including boot brush stands, accessible pathways, StoryWalk installations, a canoe/kayak launch, the winding dune boardwalk, dune grass planting, and the wind phone. These accomplishments were made possible through the ongoing support of the conservation authority.
• We continue to contribute trail and nature articles to local publications, including It Starts at the Beach and Welcome to the Club. We also promote our work through our website and social media, with Facebook serving as a key platform where we now engage with more than 2,800 followers.
• Supporting like-minded organizations remains a priority. This year, LSNT volunteers assisted Lambton Wildlife by raking a “burn buffer” at Karner Blue, ensuring the success of a prescribed burn. We also partnered with the Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group to cut standing dead Phragmites at the L Lake wetland along Outer Drive in Port Franks.
• LSNT hosted the Health & Wellness Bazaar and the Holiday Marketplace at the Port Franks Community Centre. These events provided valuable opportunities to meet community members, share information about our work, and encourage membership renewals, while also supporting local vendors.

• Built a volunteer pool' of 65+, an email list of 140+ and a Facebook followers list of 2,500+. Partnered with local Landowners, Municipal Council & Staff, local Community Service Groups and donors.
• Constructed and/or upgrade trails, installed trail signage & painted blazes, and re-naturalized damaged  areas.
• Built substantial trail infrastructure including ATV barriers, boardwalks, benches, floating dock and  portage for canoes & kayaks, small bridges over gullies, and stairs on steep embankments.
• Created extensive public awareness of  the critical need to protect & preserve our remaining 'Gems of Nature' through public meetings, monthly newsletters, newspaper articles, presentations to community groups, networking, brochures, badge programs, website and social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).
• Maintaining 20+ km of nature trails on over 2300 acres of the some of the most environmentally sensitive lands in Lambton Shores and vicinity beyond the  confines of our treasured Pinery Provincial Park and Rock Glen Conservation Area.
• Ongoing efforts to protect the  natural diversity of Lambton Shores and vicinity. This includes projects such a tree planting and pollinator boxes.
• Implementing  changes that make trails available for those who use mobility aids. We have laid a packed chip & dust  surface on three trails, totaling more than 3 km in length. This includes one of  the few accessible trails through a Carolinian Canada forest in southwestern  Ontario. We have also built an accessible viewing platform overlooking the Ausable River Cut, in the heart of the Port Franks designated “Important Bird and Biodiversity Area”.
• Being part of the larger community "Beyond the Trails".  We are a proud member of the County of Lambton Adopt-A-Road Program; cleaning Bog Line from Northville Rd. to the county boundary. We have also partnered with the North Lambton Community Health Centre to lead hikes on area nature trails.