Achievements

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TRAIL MAINTENANCE & PROJECTS

Ipperwash Dunes & Swales

• Added new map signs along the trail network

• Installed a new bench at the back of the white trail

• Completed and submitted the spring & fall property inspection reports to NCC

• Added two signs at the trailhead to direct hikers to the trails 

• Installed a map holder at the trailhead

• Trimmed vegetation along the trail

'L' Lake Management Area

• Refurbished the bench overlooking the pond with new pressure treated lumber

• Cleared deadfall

• Trimmed vegetation along the trail

Forested Dunes

• Refurbished the Delmar Ellis bench with new wooden slats

• Cleared the trail of excessive vegetation overgrowth

• Added two directional signs

• Completed and submitted the spring & fall property inspection reports to NCC

Lambton County Heritage Forest

• Added new bench at the back

• Installed the Seven Grandfathers carvings at the Circle of Life

• Installed a plant identifier display

• Added plaques for the owls that were donated by the Newton brothers 

• Adjusted the brackets on the trailhead panels to avoid shifting

• Added signs to the trailhead structure 

• Installed 100 protective sheaths to the bottom of the trees behind the community centre

• Trimmed vegetation along the High Ridge Trail

• Blocked off side trails to prevent further fragmentation of the forest

Ausable River Valley & Mystery Falls

• Installed footbridges over muddy areas

• Installed stair on muddy embankment

• Converted ladder to stairs

• Added map signs at intersections along the trail network

• Cleared the vegetation overgrowth from Elm Tree Drive to the stairs

• Cleared two fallen trees

• Added a Trilobite plaque to the fossil display

Ausable River Cut Conservation Area

• Installed 240 m of chip & dust to complete the accessible loop

• Moved the base for the walkway to the dock due to high water

• Installed four “PATH CLOSED” signs to stop the fragmentation of the forest

• Trimmed the trails and cleared 100 feet of fence line along Hwy. 21

Forest Trails

• Installed 800 m of chip & dust to the Grand Trunk Trail

• Installed Lambton Shores Nature Trails sign on cross beam of the trailhead structure

• Planted 2 sycamores and 1 white pine tree at the trailhead

• Moved the granite map stone from behind the library to the trailhead

• Repainted the whistle post

• Trimmed the vegetation along the Grand Trunk Trail

• Adjusted the brackets on the trailhead panels to avoid shifting

• Added a metal roof to the Garden Club shed by the library

• Installed and planted 4 pollinator boxes along the Grand Trunk Trail

• Installed posts at the rail bridge to prevent ATV, snowmobile and golf cart traffic

Connector Trail from Heritage Forest to Ausable River Cut

• Replaced the “Welcome Visitors” sign

• Added various directional signs

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Trail Hikes: Lambton Shores Nature Trails led trail hikes organized by the local Health Centres.

Trail Maps: We collaborated again with the Grand Bend Chamber of Commerce to issue an updated map of all the hiking trails in Lambton Shores & Vicinity. The map is an insert in the Grand Bend Summer Tourist Guide and Lambton Shores Nature Trails distributed more than 1000 maps this year.

Trail Badge Program: The free badge award program was launched late in 2018 and has seen an increased demand due to the number of people on the trails and some social media promotion we did.  There are now fewer than 90 remaining of the original 200 produced.

Adopt-a-Road: We conducted our annual cleanup of the 5.5 km stretch of Bog Line from Hwy 79 to the Ausable River Bridge as part of the Lambton County Adopt-a-Road program.

Seven Grandfathers Installation: Thanks to Kettle Point artist Garrett Nahdee, the Seven Grandfathers (Love, Respect, Courage, Wisdom, Truth, Humility, and Honesty) carvings have been installed around the Circle of Life at the Port Franks Community Centre.

Forest Shed: In partnership with the Forest Garden Club, we added a fresh coat of paint and a metal roof to the shed beside the library.

Helping Hand: We partnered with Jeremy Stephenson, who grew up in Warwick and is taking teacher’s college through the University of Windsor, to complete a school assignment: building 3 footbridges in Mystery Falls.

Portage: In partnership with the Municipality of Lambton Shores, we began the initial implementation phase of a portage along Huron Street in Port Franks for canoe and kayak enthusiasts.

Youth: We had five new youth volunteers come out and help us on the trails this year.  This is the most we have ever had come out in a single year and we look forward to continuing our efforts to engage more youth in giving back to the community.

Land Management Seminar: Kate Monk, Stewardship, Land and Education Manager with the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, was the guest speaker at an interactive seminar we hosted at the pavilion behind the community centre in Port Franks.  Kate enjoyed the opportunity to speak about their experience with land management to 16 attendees, including many facts about the properties where we maintain the trails (L-Lake, Ausable River Cut and Mystery Falls).

• Built a 'Volunteer Pool' of 60+  members. Have a Subscribers list of 300+  people. 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 newsletter, newspaper articles, presentations to community groups, networking, brochures, badge programs, website and social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).
• Maintaining ~40 km of nature trails on over 2300 acres of the some of the most environmentally sensitive lands in Lambton Shores & 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 & 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 two trails, totaling more than 2 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.