This 73-acre forested property lies on a gently rolling moraine just south of the South branch of the Thames River between Putnam and Ingersoll, adjacent to other woodland patches. The upland soils in the area are deep sandy with occasional underlying clay, while the lowland is swampy in places with muck soil. The property lies within the Reynolds Creek sub-watershed of the Upper Thames River and forms part of three provincially-designated natural areas called the Five Points Woods (MNR-NHIC ID #s 4459 and 5591) and the Five Points Wetland Complex PSW (MNR-NHIC ID#8521). Immediately to the west of the property on Five Points Road is a 35-acre part of the wetland complex donated in 1990 to the Ontario Heritage Trust by E&E (McLaughlin) Aggregates Ltd and managed by the UTRCA.
The property consists of mixed coniferous-deciduous upland forest and forest swamp. The low-lying areas of the property were farmed until the 1940s and1950s and then abandoned. These areas have reforested naturally but also include some older coniferous plantings (White Pine, Scotch Pine (80-90 yrs), Laryx). White Cedar is prevalent in the wetter areas. Upland areas contain mature White Ash, Red Oak, Sugar Maple, American Beech, Bitternut Hickory and Black Walnut. This upland area was never cleared. The nature of the vegetative cover in the Five Points area is well documented (OHT, UTRCA reports). The wetland contains several rare orchids. There is a good understorey of native plants on the property and introduced invasive plants do not appear to be a particular problem. The property was donated to TTLT in 2009 by Al and Lilianne Driedger. The Driedgers were strongly motivated to protect the natural features of the land in perpetuity and that lead them to create this enduring natural legacy. The donors have been good stewards of the land, have planted trees and maintained hiking trails. |
  |
||||||
 |
|||||||
