Trail Talk: The importance of respecting and protecting nature

Shaggy Manes.

Many more people are learning what Indigenous people have known for a very long time; it is important to respect and protect nature, but it is unfortunate that not all politicians believe in this philosophy.

There are many initiatives that are becoming more popular. These include donating property to organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy and the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy.

Other initiatives include removing invasive alien plants and replacing them with native plants, stopping the use of herbicides and pesticides (or at least minimizing their use), planting pollinator gardens, creating organic gardens, and minimizing the impact of any developments, including avoiding sensitive areas.

There are also many National and Provincial Parks and Conservation Area properties.

One of the best-known charitable organizations that accept donations of property, or purchase properties is the Nature Conservancy of Canada. It was founded in 1962 and has helped to protect 20 million hectares from coast to coast.

Locally NCC properties include the Morris Tract property, the John and Marylo Graham Nature Reserve.

The Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy was founded in 2011 by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation to give people a local way to make a positive difference by helping protect and restore land, water, and nature in the historic Huron Tract area within Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, and Perth counties.

Their current properties are the Bayfield River Flats, the Mayhew Tract near Holmesville, the Woodburne Farm near Holmesville, the Heaman Tract near Ailsa Craig, and the Warner Preserve at Grand Bend.

The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy was founded in 1997. Their mission is to protect sensitive and vulnerable landscapes.  This includes 253 properties with a total of 25,000 acres.

Three quarters of these properties are owned, and the other quarter are privately owned, where the landowner has placed conservation agreements on title preventing aggregate extraction, loss of farmland, severances, etc.  These properties are mostly on the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island.

There are three local properties: The Carey property of 54.17 acres was established on August 8, 2019, and includes a white pine plantation planted in late 1980s with little damage from white pine weevil and blister rust.

There are also maple, American beech, black cherry, and black walnut and white cedar groves. This property also includes a section of the Maitland Trail.

Another property is the 3.06-acre Ottewell-Goderich Nature Preserve established on September 15, 2019, which includes over 16 species of trees and shrubs which provide shelter and food for birds etc. It is located south of Fullerview Drive, and incudes part of the Lake Huron shore.

The third property is the 100-acre Ottewell-Ashfield Nature Preserve established on August 9, 2016. It is located on either side of the Nile river, East of Lanesville Line and West of Cransford Line.  Almost this entire property is designated as Natural Environment, a designation that applies to those areas that meet the criteria of Natural Heritage Features and Areas in the Provincial Policy Statement.

We are very grateful to these landowners for preserving the natural environment and protecting the property from development.

We can all do our part by considering how much manicured lawn and garden are needed and how to encourage pollinators to our property however small it may be.

We should also be careful that we do not plant any invasive plants in our garden.  Plants such as periwinkle were popular in the past, before it was realized how they can escape and crowd out native plants.

I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy nature along the many trails in our area.  On November 1 eleven of us hiked the trails at Exeter seeing three white squirrels.

On my other hikes I have seen quite a few fungi, including clitocybers, scalycaps and shaggy manes.

NOTES:

The Menesetung Bridge across the Maitland River at Goderich is now closed to pedestrians and cyclists until an expected completion date in November.

The trail entrance at 80918 Sharpes Creek Line is now closed due to gravel pit work.

Deer gun hunting December 1-7 when much of the Maitland Trail will be closed.

Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 9 to 12.30 p.m. - Hike from Robert Edgar Bridge to Auburn on the Maitland Trail. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Susan Ethelston at susan.ethelston@gmail.com. This is a Level 1, moderate to brisk paced hike - some uneven surfaces.

Sunday, November23, 2025, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. - Hike Naftel’s Creek Conservation Area. Meet at Naftel’s Creek at 79154 Bluewater Highway, Goderich and meander around this beautiful and scenic trail. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Gena Lowe at genalowe24@gmail.com. This is a level 1, moderately paced hike.

Tuesday Trompers meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to hike for about an hour. If you wish to be on this email list, send an email to mta@maitlandtrail.ca

Midweek hikers meet at 9 a.m. and hike for 1 ½ to 2 hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact Patrick Capper at pcapper99@gmail.com