Thames Talbot Land Trust Plants Another Seed in Community

Planting the Seeds for Land Conservation

Thames Talbot Land Trust Plants the Seeds for Land Conservation

By: Karen Ashford

Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT) and the Forest Gene Conservation Association (FGCA) recently hosted a two-day Seed Collection Certification Course.  The first day, Saturday September 23rd, was primarily focused on seed biology and participants learned about native tree seed collection and marketing. On Sunday, participants travelled to the grounds of the St Clair Region Conservation Authority’s head office in Strathroy, where they applied the knowledge acquired in the workshop. 
The primary focus of TTLT, one of Ontario’s 34 Land Trusts, is acquiring, restoring and conserving land in the Thames Talbot region, which includes London and the surrounding Counties of Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford and Perth.   The members and volunteers who participated in the Seed Collection Certification Course are now trained in identifying native tree seeds and can thus, contribute to TTLT restoration and naturalization projects. 
The Meadowlily Nature Preserve (MNP) is an ongoing project of Thames Talbot Land Trust.  Since the donation of the 5.8ha (14 acre) of land by Rick and Carol Richardson in 2002, TTLT has completed a number of projects which include fencing, signage, trail improvements, limited plantings and a footbridge on the property.  With the help of the volunteers who have recently completed the Seed Collection Certification Course, TTLT can begin restoring the 0.7 ha (1.7 acre) of meadow area found on the MNP.  Volunteers will be able to help identify and plant seeds of native trees and shrub species commonly found in the surrounding area.
Recent advances in our understanding of ecological restoration have made Direct Seeding the preferred method of restoration, over the alternative of planting container stock.  Direct Seeding is more cost effective, requires lower maintenance and more closely mimics natural processes. 
Thames Talbot Land Trust would like to thank all of its members and volunteers who participated in the Seed Collection Certification Course and encourage anyone interested in learning more about the land trust to visit our website at www.ttlt.ca

 

For further information contact:
Don Gordon, Executive Director
Thames Talbot Land Trust
(519)858-3442