River Safety Message Spreads Thanks to Enbridge Gas听

Many thanks to Enbridge Gas and the Fueling Futures Grant for their support of the 糖心直播 (UTRCA)鈥檚 River Safety Education program. River Safety is an in-class program of hands-on, interactive activities designed to familiarize grade two students with the dangers associated with water bodies and, specifically, the river. 听

The program also creates an awareness of the hazards associated with structures such as dams and dykes, reservoirs, as well as stormwater ponds. Through the use of puzzles, games, and presentations, the program shows students how to stay safe near rivers and streams. With the $2,500 donation from Enbridge Gas, UTRCA Education staff will be able to reach 16 classes from schools identified as high priority that would not be able to receive the program otherwise. 听

Thank you again to Enbridge Gas and the Fueling Futures Grant!

The Hows and Whys of Fall Leaf Colour Change听

October is the best month in the Thames watershed to go for a walk to see the fall colours in your local conservation area, park, or natural area.听 听

But why do the leaves of deciduous (non-evergreen) trees and shrubs change colour? It is a bit complicated, but, in a nutshell, as the sunlight hours shrink, chlorophyll production in the leaves slows down and then stops. Eventually, all the chlorophyll is destroyed. Chlorophyll converts sunlight to food energy and is the pigment that gives leaves their green colour.

Once the chlorophyll is gone, orange and yellow pigments, called carotene and xanthophylls, begin to surface. The vivid reds come from pigments called anthocyanins which are manufactured from sugars in the leaf.听 The sugars are stored in the twigs for next spring when the leaves emerge again. 听

The quality and quantity of colour varies depending on weather, sunlight, and soil moisture. Climate change may produce more muted, delayed, or sporadic colour changes due to higher temperatures and more cloudy days that interrupts photosynthesis and sugar production.听听 听

Discover 糖心直播’s parks and natural areas: www.thamesriver.on.ca/parks-recreation-natural-areas.

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New Educational Programs and Events Coming Soon Thanks to TD Friends of the Environment

糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff are thrilled to have received two grants from TD Friends of the Environment!听

Wildwood Community Education staff have received a grant for over $6,000 to develop and implement a pilot water systems program. This subject area was chosen for the grant due to inquiries from teachers about local water systems content for the grade eight curriculum.

The “Forces of Nature” pilot program will enable six grade eight classes to spend the day at Wildwood Conservation Area participating in hands-on learning opportunities related to water systems and the local impacts of climate change on the Thames River watershed. Participating schools will also have a rain gauge installed at their school and receive training by UTRCA staff on precipitation data collection for our Community Precipitation Monitoring Project (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network). A follow-up package will be created for teachers to use the Community Precipitation Monitoring Project data as part of a cross-curricular project (Math, Science, and Social Studies areas of study).听听

A second grant of over $10,500 was received in partnership with the and Friends of Medway Creek to host two community events in the spring of 2024. Both events will focus on celebrating the natural spaces that provide countless benefits to our communities and highlighting the UTRCA Watershed Report Cards.听

These events are the beginning of a series that we plan to host across the entire watershed. These initial events will focus on the Dorchester and Medway Creek watersheds and will be hosted at Dorchester Mill Pond and the Medway Valley Heritage Forest in collaboration with the Museum of Ontario Archaeology. Both events will feature guided hikes, hands-on environmentally based activities, litter cleanups, pollinator plantings, and more!听

Many thanks to TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for your continued support!听

For more information, contact Erin Dolmage, Community Education Technician, about the Wildwood water systems program, or听Linda Smith, Community Partnerships Specialist, about the 2024 community events.

Tree Planting with the M茅tis Nation of Ontario

On September 23, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) joined the M茅tis Nation of Ontario (MNO) in a community tree planting on UTRCA owned lands adjacent to Fanshawe Reservoir. The MNO planted 40 native trees including red oak, black cherry, sugar maple, black walnut, hackberry, red maple, and white pine. This planting marks the second year we have partnered with the MNO to naturalize this area, increase biodiversity, and help create a wildlife corridor. We look forward to continue working with the MNO in future years!听

Field Botanists of Ontario Tour London Environmentally Significant Areas

糖心直播 (UTRCA)鈥檚 Vegetation Specialist, Brenda Gallagher, and Terrestrial Biologist, Cathy Quinlan, led botany walks on September 23rd. The walks took place in Westminster Ponds Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) and Meadowlily Woods ESA for members of the Field Botanists of Ontario (FBO). Participants, ranging from amateur to professional, came out to see and learn more about the plants of this Carolinian region. These natural areas boast several different plant communities from young to mature Carolinian woodlands, swamp, bog, meadow, and more.听听听

Brenda provided fascinating information on the medicinal uses of plants and the folklore and spiritual role of many trees.听Cathy focused on identification and the ecology and management of the ESAs.听People were very impressed with the quality of these publicly accessible natural areas in London.听听

Some of the interesting trees encountered included Sugar and Black Maple (interesting discussions about whether they are two or one species), oaks, Shagbark and Bitternut Hickory, Black Walnut, and Eastern Hemlock. While most of the wildflowers were done for the season, the group saw the leaves of Wild Ginger and Bloodroot, and enjoyed many flowering goldenrods and asters in sunnier locations.听听听 听

The participants were a fun and interesting group and everyone learned from each other. The walks were part of FBO鈥檚 Annual General Meeting held in the St. Thomas area. Other botanists lead nature walks in rural Elgin and Middlesex Counties.听听 听

Contacts: Cathy Quinlan and听Brenda Gallagher

TD Tree Plantings with Oneida Nation of the Thames and Chippewas of the Thames First Nation

On October 4th and 5th, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) participated in two TD Tree Day planting events with Oneida Nation of the Thames and Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, respectively. Over 60 people participated across both events with members from the two First Nation communities being joined by UTRCA and TD staff. A group of enthusiastic students from Western University’s Masters in Environmental Sustainability program also pitched in to make quick work of the planting.听

At the Oneida Nation event, a total of 194 fruit trees were planted in the community, including American hazelnuts, Serviceberries, four varieties of pear, five varieties of apple, and two varieties of nectarine. 100 of these fruit trees were planted at a property that will turn into a small food orchard for the community.听 The remaining 94 fruit trees were given out to community services, seniors, and households.听

At the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, over 200 trees were planted at a seniors residence, including Red Oak, Bur Oak, White Pine, Sugar Maple, Black Walnut, Hackberry, Black Cherry, American Hazel, and Serviceberry. In addition to the aesthetic appeal, these trees will help provide shade and cooler temperatures for the residents living in the adjacent building and attract wildlife including songbirds, insects, and butterflies.听

The event at Chippewas of the Thames First Nation concluded with a lunch and presentation held at the Band Council Office. Participants learned about the history of the Chippewa Nation spanning from pre-colonial times to the present day. MES students were able to ask questions about sustainability and learn about important intersections between environmentalism, Truth and Reconciliation, Treaty rights and responsibilities, and ecological justice.听 听

Stream of Dreams Fish Receive Helping Hand from the Cross Cultural Learner Centre

On October 12th, over a dozen youth from the Cross Cultural Learner Centre (CCLC) helped varnish the Stream of Dreams fish at Northbrae Public School. This school took part in the Stream of Dreams program years earlier, so its fish are made of wood, requiring a yearly coat of varnish for protection. This can be a big task for a school community, so we’re always grateful when a community group offers to help out. The CCLC have assisted with varnishing for many years at various schools and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the future!

Fish on the fence at St. Ambrose school in Stratford

RiverFest23 at Western University听

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) participated in the second annual RiverFest event at Western University on September 21st. Riverfest23 featured a series of events from September 9th – October 3rd and was co-organized by the Indigenous Students’ Association, Indigenous Student Centre, and Western Sustainability. Riverfest鈥檚 goal is to reconnect students, staff, and faculty to the rivers that flow through campus. Hosting this event in September (re)introduces both current and incoming members of Western to the trails, natural features on campus, and the river.听

UTRCA teamed up with Western Libraries Map and Data Centre to hold a hands-on, immersive workshop on campus, 鈥淐onnecting to the River through Data, Science & Maps鈥�. The workshop allowed participants to explore data and maps from campus rivers while bringing them together through StoryMaps, with hands on interactive displays in the Weldon Library Community Room. There were stations showcasing the importance of water quality, the impact of land use practices on waterways, local actions from the latest UTRCA Watershed Report Cards, and samples of aquatic species found throughout the Thames River. The participants were engaged, asked great questions, and added to their appreciation of the rivers as a result of the event. Thank you to Western for including UTRCA in the event!听

Contact: Craig Irwin,听Water Quality Specialist

Wildwood Autumn Open House a Success

It was a beautiful day on September 23rd to celebrate the season at Wildwood Conservation Area鈥檚 Autumn Open House! 糖心直播 (UTRCA) staff and high school volunteers welcomed over 250 people to the property, offering free vehicle admission for the afternoon alongside several engaging activities. 听

Visitors were able to meet two Ojibwe horses, their caregivers Salianne and Dale Patch of Aspens Ojibwe Horses, as well as Indigenous Educator, Christin Dennis. Christin presented about the once nearly extinct breed of horses, and their comeback story. He approached the past, present, and future of Indigenous Peoples with a grace and openness that welcomed dialog and understanding. Salianne and Dale shared in-depth information and answered many questions about the care and breeding of the Ojibwe horses. The horses were very calm, patient, and happy to be the stars of the show!听

Over 30 people enjoyed a tour of the Wildwood Dam, down and back up all 108 steps! Many had questions and were surprised to find out that the gates are made of concrete.

Visitors also enjoyed a self-guided walk in the woods through the new Story Hike Trail where they were able to explore nature through the pages of the storybook, It’s Fall by Linda Glaser. The 1.2 km hike followed a stone dust path along the Green Trail in the Dr. Murray Forest making for an accessible walk. 听

At the Visitor Centre, children and adults alike were excited to make leaf rubbings, colour Obijwe Horse drawings by Indigenous illustrator, Rhonda Snow, and create seasonal art. Hoot Hoot, the Great Horned Owl (taxidermy), was on display to showcase the many cool features of owls. There was also a display about native tree parts with information about how to identify them in nature. 听

Thanks to everyone who joined us! Find more photos in our .

Fall Tree Powers a Success听

500 more trees will be planted in the watershed thanks to the 糖心直播 (UTRCA)鈥檚 Tree Power programs this fall!听

The UTRCA partnered with the Township of Perth South and the Town of St. Marys to provide residents with the opportunity to purchase native hardwood trees. Tree pick up days were held on Saturday, September 30 and Saturday, October 14, respectively. Both programs had 250 trees available and both sold out!听

The London Hydro Tree Power and Festival Hydro Tree Power program in Stratford will be held in April, 2024. Stay tuned! 听