SYDENHAM FIELD NATURALISTS

INDOOR MEETINGS WERE HELD OCT THROUGH MARCH INCLUSIVE EDUCATING MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS ABOUT OUR NATURAL HABITAT. WE PARTNERED WITH THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL BY UTILIZING THEIR COLD FRAME HOOP HOUSE AND HAVING THE STUDENTS NURTURE NEWLY PLANED PLUGS FROM THE FALL OF 2023 TO MATURITY FOR PUBLIC SALE AND EDUCATION IN JUNE 2024. WE ARE ONE OF A VERY FEW CLUBS IN CANADA THAT HOLD A NATIVE PLANT SALE BOTH ONLINE AND PHYSICALLY EVERY YEAR WITH OVER ONE DOZEN EXPERIENCED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE INSTRUCTIONS THAT VOLUNTEER FOR THIS EVENT. MOST OUTDOOR MEETINGS HELD BY THROUGH SEPTEMBER ENCOMPASS THE PUBLIC AND ARE OFTEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES WHOSE PROPERTIES WE VISIT AND USE AS EDUCATIONAL TOOLS ABOUT NATIVE HABITAT.

THE CLUB HAS SUCCESSFULLY PLANTED 2 MIYAWAKI FORESTS IN CHATHAM GARGERING 16 NEW VOLUNTEERS OVER 3 DAYS WORTH OF SITE PREPARATION AND PLANTING. WE ALSO REMOVED INVASIVE SPECIES MULTI FLORA ROSE FROM OUR STEWARDED PROPERTY PAWPAW WOODS AND REPLANTED AREAS WITH NATIVE SPECIES THAT WILL THRIVE IN THIS LOCATION AGAIN UTILIZING MORE THAN 12 VOLUNTEERS. WE ARE EXPANDING OUR YOUTH INITIATIVE PROGRAM BY TRAINING YOUTH TO FACILITATES OUR PURPLE MARTIN HOUSE BOXES AND PARTICIPATE IN THE BANDING OF YOUNG BIRDS .WE WILL HAVE SOME OF OUR MOST EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEERS HOSTING AND GUIDING TOURS OF TWO LOCAL FORESTS TO SUPPORT THE MUNICIPALITY IN COMMEMORATING THE 150THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN BY SHOWING WHAT THE AREA WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE 150 YEARS AGO.