Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust

In this first joint ownership acquisition of two properties totaling 63 acres, the Trust has secured not only over a full kilometer of the Oak Ridges Trail in perpetuity, but also worked with and advanced goals of two other organizations. As a joint owner, the Regional Municipality of York will manage the properties as part of the Region's Greening Strategy. The Happy Valley Forest is a priority conservation area for the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). The NCC has solicited funds to ensure long-term stewardship of ecological values of this and other protected areas of the Happy Valley Forest.

This 18.9 acre donation to the Land Trust is fully within the natural core area of the Oak Ridges Moraine and classed as an area of High Aquifer Vulnerability. The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has identified the location as a Ground Water Recharge Area - Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA). The stream that flows east to west through the property is part of the East Holland River. Small does not mean unimportant. Small wetlands on the property are not classified, however as they are in close proximity to other significant wetlands and protected areas, they play a role in providing continual passage to wetland species. There have been many recorded sightings of the Red Shouldered Hawk, a species identified as Threatened by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

There are two separate parcels protected under conservation easements in 2008. The primary purpose of the easements was to protect the environmentally sensitive headwaters areas. A secondary benefit was securing permanent passage for the Oak Ridges Trail across these stunning lands. Previously cleared fields are being left to undergo natural succession while the remainder of the two properties, totaling over 100 acres, is mostly forested. Streams here feed to the West Holland River.

Restrictive covenants cover smaller portions of these properties to provide passage for the Oak Ridges Trail. This allows the public to discover the beauty of the moraine and ensures that hiking activity can continue to be a positive "off-road" experience.

Waters falling on this property end up in the Uxbridge and Beaverton Creeks and eventually, in Lake Simcoe. The 28 acre conservation easement reflects the interest of the donors to protect the considerable time and effort they have contributed to reforesting a retired hay field. The hardwoods and conifers were planted with support of the Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority. It was through involvement with the Land Trust as a board member that the donor family became interested in providing long term protection to the lands they love.

This 39 acre property, donated as a fee simple transaction to the Land Trust, will be managed in cooperation with the Town. At the request of the donor this property, used at one time as a maple syrup operation with faint remnants of a logging access trail, not be open to public access until the secondary planning process and approvals are completed. As happens through much of Aurora, streams here feed into the East Holland River.

This 172 acres, including extensive former agricultural fields, has seen considerable work undertaken by both York Region and Toronto Region Conservation Authority to reforest the property, giving natural succession a boost. Work included removal of derelict vehicles and an improved stream crossing in this upper area of the West Humber watershed.

The four independent agreements which now protect over 378 acres of connected properties are a testament to the value of working with extended family members to coordinate protection efforts and accommodate multi-generational planning. Together these properties include one of the moraine's deep natural kettle lakes and the Provincially Significant Hall Lake-Kennifick Wetland Complex, comprising the headwaters of the Schomberg Creek. The creek joins the Holland River which flows north into Lake Simcoe. The varied habitats within this protected area provide home for several bird species of note which will benefit from the use of the property as a registered organic farm.

This 61 acre property generously donated to the Land Trust, includes mature hardwoods on the northern portion, conifer plantations on the south with a naturally regenerating old aggregate pit in between. Both Duffins and Lynde Creeks drain this area. Like many properties on the moraine, this site is subject to increasing invasion of Dog Strangling Vine, a species that out competes many native species.

Tucked into a far corner of the moraine in the most upper reaches of the Nottawasaga watershed, this is where some of the waters enjoyed at Wasaga Beach come from. The 26 acre Fayle property has been lovingly tended over the years with a Forest Management Agreement in place. A much loved and enjoyed heritage home complements the property and setting. As happens with many conservation easements the donors become more deeply involved in protection efforts on their own and other properties as volunteers with the Land Trust.

Cold Creek which joins the Humber River in the Toronto Region Conservation Authority's jurisdiction, runs through this 94 acre parcel. Among other activities to be undertaken here is the removal of a residence, no longer in use.

This 18 acre property, received as a bequest from Beth Harper in 2007, has already been the scene of considerable stewardship activity including trees planted with the assistance of the provincial CFWIP program and Evergreen-Home Depot funding. The site includes a kettle lake and a provincially significant wetland.

Grazing lands, a tree nursery, conifer plantations and a large wet forest bordering Wagner Lake combine to make these 150 acre and 190 conservation agreements, negotiated in separate years on adjacent properties, an important mix of habitat and sustainable uses. The Uxbridge Brook drains this area.

Considerable amounts of this 200 acre conservation agreement are still being actively farmed, not an unusual activity for lands protected under easements. Hedgerows are an important habitat to conserve although Buckthorn, an invasive species throughout central Ontario could be removed to ensure better success of native species.

Small conservation opportunities are important too as this 10 acres of completely forested property illustrates. Numerous bird species require larger forested areas as "interior forest birds" where among other features they find shelter from prey species common to more open areas.

Grazing lands, a tree nursery, conifer plantations and a large wet forest bordering Wagner Lake combine to make these 150 acre and 190 conservation agreements, negotiated in separate years on adjacent properties, an important mix of habitat and sustainable uses. The Uxbridge Brook drains this area.

What once was 60 acres of mostly open fields has now been planted with thousands of trees by York Region in an effort to increase natural cover in accordance with the Region's Greening Strategy. Check this site in a decade or two to see what improvements there will be in wildlife habitat, water retention and air quality services over what was there in 2004!

The success of protecting parcels of adjacent lands is evident in this early 199 acre conservation agreement which impacts on the flow of waters to the Pigeon River via Fleetwood Creek. The property includes an active farm, hardwood forest, conifer plantings, some regenerating fields and two natural ponds. Among the most easterly of the Land Trust's agreements on the moraine, it is important as part of an assemblage of protected lands in the area, abutting a property owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust.

An early conservation easement on this 43 acre property has now seen two transfers of ownership and continued interest in protecting the upper reaches of Lynde Creek. Recent activity includes tree and shoreline planting to improve fish habitat with the assistance of volunteers. Ontario Streams will monitor changes on this and other properties on Lynde Creek.

Like the property above, this 53 acres has transferred with active interest and activity including tree planting under the province's CFWIP program to support continued improvement of the upper reaches of the Lynde Creek where the now endangered Redside dace were likely inhabitants.

The owners have planted over 70,000 trees in recent years making this 152 acre property a showcase for successful conservation. Planting is a first step, then there is the struggle for survival - in this case evidence of a larch pest and white ash die-off. Continued interaction between the Trust and landowners on an annual basis ensures that the Trust can assist in finding resources or solutions to further these incredibly admirable stewardship efforts.

The donors in this instance epitomize the generosity and interest of private landowners in setting up and encouraging the use of conservation easements through the early years of the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust. These independent holdings contain totals of 165 and 711 acres respectively in the two municipalities.

The estate of Ingeborg Secord was the source of this 48 acre conservation easement which, apart from the lands adjacent to the Oak Ridges Trail, is completely forested. The location in the Duffins Creek watershed encourages further partnering with Toronto Region Conservation for stewardship activity on the property.

The donors have enlisted the assistance of the York Stewardship Rangers in recent years for removal of invasive species on this 74 acre property. Like many areas across the moraine, buckthorn, garlic mustard, Scots pine and Manitoba maple compete for sun and nourishment from the soil, out pacing native species.

This 100 acre conservation easement is a showcase of mixed hardwood and planted conifers as well as riparian, bog and wetland vegetation including pitcher plants. Stewardship work has been undertaken with assistance of the provincial CFWIP program and there's room for more.

This 66 acres includes a forest, a stream feeding into Duffins Creek and a beaver dam. A major reforesting effort of former grazing land has been undertaken by Toronto Region Conservation and will add to the natural land cover in years to come.

The first land transaction entered into by the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust was this fee-simple donation of 17 acres from Ken Purvis (now deceased). Immediately beside the entrance to Lake Ridge Ski Club on the Chalk Lake Road, the site is too hilly for any mechanical planting so slower natural regeneration of shrubs is being encouraged. From here it's down hill all the way for the waters of one of the many branches of Duffins Creek that begin on the Oak Ridges Moraine.