There is now increasing concern about alien invasive species. Locally there have been great efforts to remove phragmites in our area. There have been some efforts to tackle Common Buckthorn. These efforts include MVCA removal of Common Buckthorn in the Wawanosh Nature Centre area and the Maitland Trail Association reduction of buckthorn in the Maitland Woods which will soon be followed by reducing the buckthorn near the Sifto Loop trails.
There is now increasing concern about alien invasive species. Locally there have been great efforts to remove phragmites in our area. There have been some efforts to tackle Common Buckthorn. These efforts include MVCA removal of Common Buckthorn in the Wawanosh Nature Centre area and the Maitland Trail Association reduction of buckthorn in the Maitland Woods which will soon be followed by reducing the buckthorn near the Sifto Loop trails.
There is now increasing concern about alien invasive species. Locally there have been great efforts to remove phragmites in our area. There have been some efforts to tackle Common Buckthorn. These efforts include MVCA removal of Common Buckthorn in the Wawanosh Nature Centre area and the Maitland Trail Association reduction of buckthorn in the Maitland Woods which will soon be followed by reducing the buckthorn near the Sifto Loop trails.
If you are confused about which plants are invasive, then you are not the only one. There are at least three lists for Ontario which have only some overlap. The Ontario Auditor General listed thirty Terrestrial plants of concern, the Ontario Invasive plant Council lists 26 plants, and the Invasive Species Centre lists 14 plants. (Common Buckthorn, Garlic Mustard, non- native Honeysuckle and Tree of Heaven are the only four plants that appear in all three lists).
In our area there are three plants that are invasive but also quite pretty, these are Purple Loosestrife, Spotted Knapweed, and Himalayan Balsam. I have been digging up thousands of spotted knapweed from our property and so far have the numbers are only slowly declining as the seeds last for 5 years or more. Himalayan balsam is not very common in our area, I have only noticed a few on the Lobb trail. Purple loosestrife seems to be making a comeback, there is quite a lot in the middle of the Maitland river and a large patch at the side of the G2G just West of the Auburn microwave tower. While I was digging up some there a frog hopped onto the path. It was very obliging and stayed put until I fetched my camera, so I was able to determine it was a pickerel frog- only the second one I have seen.
On the Tuesday Tromp at Wawanosh Nature Centre I leaned that the Centre’s large barn will be demolished as soon as the bats leave it for their winter home. It is being demolished as it does not meet the present building code for buildings open to the public. It will be replaced by a pavilion and a large bat house which has already been built.
Notes.
Thursday August 31st 1pm to 4 pm Turtle release by ABCA at Morrison dam.
Saturday September 9th 9 am Mindfulness meditative walk at the Wawanosh Valley Conservation area trails. For registration and further details contact Janie van Essen via email jvanessen@hotmail.com or text 519.955.4402. This hike is Level 1, easy pace, 1.5 hours.
Saturday September 9th 10am-12 pm A BRVTA hike at Naftel’s Creek with Michele Martin.
Saturday September 16th and Sunday September 17th Maitland Trail El Camino hikes Register through the Maitland Trail website maitlandtrail.ca You can sign up to hike the whole 50.3 km in two days or opt for shorter hikes.
Sunday September 17th 9 am- 12.30 pm –Cycle on the G2G from Blyth to McNabb road and back Contact Sally Brodie 226-378-1648
