Our Environment

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A great day to be out in nature and to help our friends - Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group! A combined group of volunteers cleared phragmites at the end of Huron St in Port Franks, along the Mud Creek shoreline and across the creek at the NCC Forested Dunes.  

We started a dune grass  planting project in the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area. This will be an annual event over the next 4-5 years in an attempt to return the landscape back to its natural state and reduce erosion.

 In 2018, we became a proud member of the County of Lambton Adopt-A-Road Program; cleaning Bog Line from Northville Rd. to the county boundary. 

Installation of a property fence at the corner of Whatman and Nipigon Streets in Port Franks.  The fence, extra brush and boulders at this entrance should better protect the NCC and the Lambton County Heritage Forest properties from further destruction by ATV's.  It will also make it safe for hikers on the trails! 

Initiated a three year experiment in the Port Frank's Forested Dunes under authority of the property owner, Nature Conservancy of Canada. The basis of the research project was to see if a natural substance found in walnuts (juglone) has any effect in controlling the growth of phragmites. 

Cleaning up the old dump off Clemens Line in Ipperwash and disposing it properly. 

Celebrating Earth Day by planting 80 native trees to form a 'Green Tunnel' around the Port Franks Community Centre.

Installed a fence and signs in the Ipperwash Dunes & Swales to officially close a side trail and reduce the fragmentation of the forest.

Built a retention wall in the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area to reduce the sand erosion on top of the sand dune along the trails.

Installed 3 turtle nest protective cages in the Ipperwash Dunes & Swales after observing turtles laying eggs. Turtle nest sites of Threatened and Endangered species are protected under this legislation as Critical Species At Risk Habitats.  Thank you!

We make a concerted effort to secure and use recycled materials including lumber and metal whenever possible.  Our largest recycled lumber project involved laying down ~400 used deck boards, each of which were 4 feet long, for the decking of the Ausable River Cut boardwalk project!

To help reduce the spread, boot brush stands have been installed at the entrance points of various trails. Boot brushes are used by visitors to clean their footwear as they enter and exit the trails. This helps to prevent the introduction of invasive exotic plant species. Exotic species that reproduce via seed are of special concern when their seed becomes dispersed following attachment to the soles of footwear.