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Photos of Naturalization Project | General Information and Plans | Photos of Wildflowers
Bringing Nature Back
The Harrington Community Club in co-operation with the Millennium EcoCommunities Oxford (MECO) Naturalization Subcommittee, is restoring the naturalness around the mill pond. In June 2000, MECO received funding from EcoAction 2000 Community Funding Program (Environment Canada) to implement a naturalization plan developed by the Harrington Community Club Naturalization Committee. In cooperation with MECO and UTRCA, 800 native grass and wifdflower plants, 250 aquatic plants, and 735 native trees and shrubs will be planted by local schools and community volunteers. Naturalization creates wildlife habitat, provides opportunities for nature appreciation and reduces the amount of grass to be cut. The banks around the pond will be stabilized by planting native shrubs through bioengineering. The bioengineering, to be completed by students, will provide shade and wildlife cover around the pond and the roots of the shrubs will hold the soil. Bird boxes, a nest basket, and a sunning raft will be constructed and installed in and around the pond. This project will expand the tree planting that was done by Harrington residents and the UTRCA in May 1994, when 250 trees were planted in the southwest area of the conservation area. The naturalization will begin in fall 2000 and will be completed in fall 2001. The project is one of the demonstration projects organized and promoted by the MECO Naturalization Subcommittee. The demonstration sites will educate private and public landowners about naturalization and its benefits; sources of native species, technical assistance, and funding; and involvement in projects in their community.
For more Information or to get involved in the naturalization project, contact Cindy Flegel (UTRCA) at 451-2800 ext. 255 or Cher Sprague (Harrington Community Club) at 475-4097.
Old Sign New Sign Installed August 2001 Cleaner Water
Enbridge Pipelines Environmental Initiative Program has provided $2500 to the MECO Naturalization Subcommittee to improve the water quality in Harrington Pond. A rock berm will be installed across the narrow part of the pond's upper end and a drainage channel will be dug to direct runoff into a settling basin. Aquatic plants planted in the basin will take up excess nutrients in the water. The basin will trap sediment, preventing it from reaching the main part of the pond. The basin will need to be cleaned out about every five to eight years when full. The construction of the settling pond will be coordinated by the UTRCA and will be completed in August 2000.
For information contact Brad Glasman (UTRCA) at 451-2800 ext. 251.
