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By: Gina Pannunzio, Danielle Stuebing and Ian Naisbitt

Our Windsor-Essex community celebrated Earth Day 2025 by planting trees on Sunday, 27 April. Volunteers participated from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 2200 trees were planted in the open greenspace along the Ganatchio Trail in Little River Corridor Park.

What a delightful Spring day we had for planting: we started the morning at 6 C and by noon it was 12 C. A fresh, north breeze of 20 km/ h made the tree branches sway. A UV index of 7 or high meant a bright and full sun during our planting time.

Wildlife observed: several Canada Geese, numerous Red-winged Blackbirds, a pair of Mute Swans and Mallard Ducks.

This naturalized area has been our focus for past Earth Day Celebrations.

Chronology of Earth Day Planting Events at this Site:

This natural area is in Little River Corridor Park from Wyandotte Street East south to McHugh Street. Includes: Aspen Lake and Centennial Pond; the Old Channel of Little River and the Ganatchio Trail system.

21 April, 2013: 1800 trees and shrubs planted
27 April, 2014: 1850
26 April, 2015: 2000
24 April, 2016: 2000
23 April, 2017: 2025
22 April, 2018: 2200
28 April, 2019: 2200
23 April, 2023: 1800
28 April, 2024: 2000
27 April, 2025: 2200 → 20075 Grand Total of trees and shrubs planted at this site!

Tree species volunteers planted today included: Silver Maple, Downy Serviceberry, Hackberry, Common witch-hazel, Black Walnut, American Sycamore, American Elderberry, Princeton Elm, White Oak, Basswood, Swamp White Oak, Eastern Red Cedar, Yellow Birch and Tamarack.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Green Teams who participated, the City of Windsor and the Essex Region Conservation Authority for helping to organise this special Earth Day Event. A “Tip of the Cap” to Enwin Utilities, Tree Canada and Green Sun Rising for sponsoring the trees.

By Aileen Petrozzi

On April 26^th the Phrag Fighters were at Bryerswood Optimist Youth Camp to celebrate Earth Day on behalf of the Club. We had a booth set up but unfortunately due to the terrible cold weather it wasn’t very busy. Despite the weather, Bernard, Janice, Heather and I still got to work and cleaned up the Phragmites that was sprayed last fall. It was short work with Bernard using our Stihl hedge cutters for the first time. Our equipment used was purchased from grants received from the Ontario Invasive Control fund- Green Shovels and ECFNC matching the fund.

We found last spring that the phragmites was so thick on the land around the pond that we couldn’t cut it or dig it out, so we recommended it be sprayed last fall by Ontario Invasive Species Center. This was the second time the lovely pond was sprayed to treat the invasive phragmites. The Phrag Fighters have been going to Bryerswood for around 5 years now and each time we go back I am surprised how the pond look

Bryerswood Optimist Youth Camp is not-for-profit, charitable organization, providing opportunities to learn life skills, outdoor camping skills and environmental stewardship.(https://bryerswood.com/about-us/) The pond gives the youth an opportunity to experience nature where many of them have not.

In June we will be meeting with Karen Alexander, the City of Windsor Naturalist, to develop a plan/dates to continue our efforts within Blue Heron Park and the Ojibway Prairie Complex.  I will have dates for all the volunteers to sign up the end of June.

Here’s a question: Why are we so worried about Phragmites???

Invasive Phragmites is an aggressive plant that spreads quickly and outcompetes native species for water and nutrients. It releases toxins from its roots into the soil to hinder the growth of and kill surrounding plants. While it prefers areas of standing water, its roots can grow to extreme lengths, allowing it to survive in relatively dry areas.

• crowds out native vegetation, thus resulting in decreased plant biodiversity
• generally provides poor habitat and food supplies for wildlife, including several Species at Risk
•  grows very quickly thereby causing lower water levels as water is transpired faster than it would be with native vegetation
•  increases fire hazards as stands are composed of a high percentage of dead stalks
• can affect agriculture, cause road safety hazard and impact recreational activities such as swimming, boating and angling.

(https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Phragmites-MNR-1.pdf)

If you want to be on our volunteer list please let me know.  Even if you can’t volunteer, come out and support the work our club and volunteers are doing. 

Thanks everyone,
Aileen Petrozzi and Heather Inkster

By Sheila Laurin

On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Kandyce Affleck who works for the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) as a conservation biologist gave us a presentation. It included an overview of the NCC owned properties in our area.   

NCC, which began in 1962, is working to protect natural areas across Canada.  It has helped protect habitat for many species at risk and provide permanent natural areas which can also benefit people who enjoy and appreciate nature. As a non-profit organization, they do fundraising for all their projects. If you wish to learn more about them, see their website.  Nature Conservancy of Canada: NCC    

The NCC Florian Diamante Nature Reserve on Pelee Island was a full ecological restoration project of an agricultural field to a natural area which included construction of a wetland.  This 62 acre site is open to the public.  Kandyce noted that there has been a significant increase in wildlife since 2022 in the area and seeds were planted to increase plant diversity. 

The NCC Marianne Girling Nature Reserve is located near the community of Harrow, is approximately 102 acres.  It contains a significant area with wetlands, Marshfield woods and meadows. (open to the public)  It was named in Marianne’s honour because it was made possible by her generous donation. The late Marianne Girling (1927-2018) was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario. She loved being in nature, and believed strongly in protecting natural areas.  She is a local conservation hero who is featured in the NCC Annual report of 2018/19. 

The NCC Upper Cedar Creek Nature Reserve has 20 hectares of beautiful Carolinian forest and wetland areas. The property was purchased from the Orfeo Lucchese family.  

The NCC Oxley Poison Sumac Swamp – approximately 321 acres have been restored to natural habitat, and is monitored.  It is also designated as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI).

The NCC Hillman Sand Hills Nature Reserve is a project which is in progress.  It is approximately 30 hectares of natural area.  The project involves the development of plans for restoration.  It is a habitat for many species at risk and it is an important area for habitat conservation.