Washago is lucky to have two large nature reserves owned by The Couchiching Conservancy in the vicinity. A second spot on the south side of the Trent-Severn Waterway gives residents another oasis: the Thomas C. Agnew Nature Reserve. Again, when you set foot on this property, you’re touching not only a lovely landscape, but a big idea.
Taking Care of our Land: Spring/Summer 2015
We help to protect thousands of acres of land across the region. All of this land requires on-going care, much of which is done by our group of wonderful volunteers.
Read about our Stewardship Activities in the Notes from the Field.
Setting Our Sights on Ramara Township
Ramara is rich in both wetlands and farmlands; two land features the Couchiching Conservancy has placed a priority on preserving. The farmlands of Ramara provide an important niche for provincial species at risk–grassland birds such as Bobolink, Meadowlark, and Barn Swallow. The wetlands are some of the most productive habitat in our region.
Continuing to bring key habitat under protection
One of the organization’s key goals is to move beyond isolated islands of green by linking protected areas to create critical masses of natural habitat with connecting corridors.
In other words: bridge building.
For years now, the Conservancy has been at work with various partners on the Carden Alvar to protect this globally-rare ecosystem. The alvar — a limestone plain with shallow soil or no soil at all — lies just east of Lake Dalrymple and it has garnered interest around the world. Protecting it would be a good thing, but if it is isolated with no solid linkages to the northern shield territory, it will be devalued.
The Greening of Ontario’s Aggregate Industry
new voluntary standards for the aggregate industry by the Cornerstone Standards Council is welcome news for communities struggling to cope with pits and quarries. The region around Orillia already has dozens of these operations in the limestone bedrock areas of Carden, Ramara, and Severn, and in the gravel areas on the Oro Moraine. A recent provincial review has identified this region as a major source area for future aggregate supplies, so the potential conflicts associated with this industry are only going to grow.
Geology around “Prairie Smoke” on the Carden Alvar
The following article has been prepared by Derek Ford, with photos by Heather Ewing and Ulrich Kretschmar. It looks at the geology of the alvar, with pictures of many of the unique features of the area.
The Carden Alvar…”a bit north east of here”
The Carden Plain is part of the “Land Between,” an area bordered by the Canadian Shield and Great Lakes Lowlands. An alvar is characterized by a limestone base with a small or no amount of soil. The birding in this area is world renowned and it is recognized as an Important Birding Area. Also, it supports unique plants that adapt to the harsh conditions of wet springs and very dry summer conditions. An open alvar vista in bloom will take your breath away with its delicate, harsh beauty.
In the News: Carden Alvar Provincial Park
After nearly decade on the wait list, a rare grassland ecosystem in Ramara Township has been formally protected as a provincial park.
The Ministry of Natural Resources announced Wednesday five nature areas would be added to the Ontario Parks docket — including Carden Alvar, near Lake Dalrymple.
It takes a village, but the village needs a leader
The Couchiching Conservancy files on the Church Woods are thick.
This charming little 25-acre woodlot in Shanty Bay stands waiting today for anyone who has the inclination to wander through it, thanks to the enormous effort of a small group of neighbours who made it their business to protect it almost a decade ago.
Life on the inside: Forest interiors
Several hundred years ago, lush, green forests covered almost all of southern Ontario. The forests were made up of trees of various species, sizes, and ages with shrubs and woodland flowers underneath. Wildlife abounded in these wooded areas. There were few openings in the forest canopy except where weather systems had downed trees or where native grasslands thrived.