St. Williams Conservation Reserve
Rebuilding vital ecosystems to honour Ontario’s heritage
Species At Risk (SAR) are plants and animals in Canada that are protected by law due to their being extirpated, endangered, threatened, or of special concern. The official Species at Risk in Ontario list can be found online at www.ontario.ca. Currently there are more than 200 species that are at risk of disappearing from Ontario. […]
Throughout the year the St Williams Community Council is involved in a wide variety of activities in the CR. The council meets monthly to discuss the needs of the CR and twice a year a meeting with the MNRF is held. Most of the work the SWCCR does is invisible to the public, yet the […]
Nestled deep in the heart of Southern Ontario, the St. Williams Conservation Reserve is 1085 hectares of reclaimed Carolinian forest. In the early 1900’s the settlers had cut down the original forest for timber and the light sandy soil had begun to erode without the tree roots and forest floor holding it in place. The […]
It’s that time of year again when some people will be looking for somewhere to dispose of your garden green waste. Unfortunately, disposing of garden waste along the roadside near a natural area is one of the main ways that invasive plants are dispersed and spread. Invasive plants create a heap of problems when then […]
The Norfolk Woodlot Owners Association AGM was well attended. Guest speakers Audrey Heagy and Adam Biddle did a fantastic job informing members on the history of The CR and Invasive Species of concern. #InvSpwk
These guidelines have been adapted from the Ontario Trails Council’s user guidelines for shared-use trails and various county and regional codes of conduct for forest users. General Rules for all SWCR Users Expect and respect other trail users Leave the wildlife for others to enjoy. Do not stress, harass, or chase wildlife. Stay on authorized […]
While we’re delighted that individuals and groups are out on trails and experiencing nature’s peace and beauty, the fact is, whether we walk, mountain bike, horseback ride, dirt bike, or ATV, there is an impact on the forest’s vegetation and wildlife. MNRF View It’s important for you to know that based on available research, MNRF […]
Why Was The CR Established? Ontario established the St Williams Conservation Reserve so that: ‘…these tracts will be a flourishing example of extraordinary biological diversity representing their pre-European settlement natural legacy of ecological communities while protecting their unique cultural heritage and providing opportunities for compatible public land uses.’ — SWCR Management Plan 2007 – 2057 […]
Operations Plan 2009-2018 The first Operations Plan for 2009-2018 defined the St Williams Conservation Reserve Community Council’s priorities and activities needed to meet the five management objectives. Natural Heritage Protection & Restoration 2009-2018 The Community Council’s focus on Natural Heritage during the first operational plan period included: About half of the pine plantations areas have […]
The vision for the Reserve is to restore the native ecosystems that existed here more than 200 years ago. We actively manage the ecological communities on the reserve to achieve this goal. All of our practices are based on sound research, expert consultation, and the best management practices available. Click on the management activities below […]