TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Connecting Kids with Conservation

JULY 6, 2023 –Kawartha Conservation is thrilled to announce the launch of the "Connecting Kids with Conservation" project, thanks to the generous $8,000 funding provided by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. This transformative initiative will actively engage youth and community volunteers in hands-on environmental education and naturalization activities, focusing on improving biodiversity and pollinator habitats at Ken Reid Conservation Area.

As Kawartha Conservation's flagship park, Ken Reid Conservation Area spans a beautiful and diverse 110 hectares, offering a sanctuary of diverse forest, meadow, and the ecologically significant McLaren's Creek Provincially Significant Wetland. 

"We are delighted to support the Kawartha Conservation for the Connecting Kids with Conservation project," said Danielle Quenneville, Regional Manager, Quebec and Greater Ontario, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. "This initiative aligns with our commitment to environmental stewardship and helping to empower the next generation to become environmental leaders. Together, we aim to help foster a love for nature and help inspire a sense of responsibility for the well-being of our planet."

The primary goal of this project is to enhance biodiversity and restore areas damaged by extreme weather events and invasive species. Through active participation from youth and community volunteers, a total of seven planting areas have been carefully selected throughout Ken Reid Conservation Area, strategically placed in highly visible locations. These planting sites include native shrub and perennial streambank areas, native tree and shrub sections, native pollinator patches, and an enhanced rain garden for improved stormwater management.

Rebecca Pomeroy, Conservation Areas Technician at Kawartha Conservation, expressed her enthusiasm for the project. 

"We believe that by actively involving young people and the community in hands-on restoration efforts, we can create lasting positive change in our natural environment,” she said. “Through these targeted plantings, we aim to establish resilient buffers, promote the recolonization of damaged areas, and provide aesthetically pleasing parkland for all visitors to enjoy."

The first six planting sites were strategically chosen to create dense and resilient natural buffers alongside newly established trails, which provides enhanced public access to previously untouched areas of the conservation area. These areas have experienced tree mortality due to natural succession and damage from extreme weather events. The project will serve as a catalyst for the regeneration of the understory, revitalizing the park's landscape.

The project also includes the establishment of oversized pollinator patches in partnership with Kawartha Conservation's urban naturalization program. These patches, located at designated sites four and five, will feature an enlarged version of a pollinator garden template, available for free download on Kawartha Conservation's website. Visitors will be able to access these resources through a QR code displayed on a permanent trail sign adjacent to the pollinator patches once complete.

Site seven will witness the enhancement of an existing rain garden. With the support of dedicated community volunteers, this site will undergo a transformation, diversifying its plant species and becoming an impressive demonstration site for sustainable stormwater management.

The Connecting Kids with Conservation project represents an exciting opportunity to inspire a love for nature, foster environmental education, and actively engage youth and community members in the restoration and conservation of Ken Reid Conservation Area. Through the visionary support of TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, this initiative will create a lasting impact, ensuring the preservation of this natural oasis for generations to come.