HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-07-23, Page 57Bannockburn
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Stanley Township has been the manage-
ment of the Bannockburn Wildlife Area.
In January of 1973, Grant Webster offered
to sell to the Ausable Bayfield Conservation
Authority some valleyland off the back of
his farm near Varna. The Land Acquisition
Committee of the ABCA investigated the
property and undertook negotiations with
the owner for purchase. Approximately 24.7
hectares (61 acres) of land was acquired by
the Conservation Authority on December 31,
1973, for the general purpose of valleyland
preservation.
The name Bannockburn was chosen for
the property because the Bannockburn
River flows through it. The role of Ban-
nockburn as a wildlife area was determined
through the development of a master plan -in
conjunction with the Ministry of Natural
Resources. That plan was essentially a
wildlife habitat management plan. The
capabilities and the resources of the Conser-
vation Area were best suited to habitat
management, rather than direct wildlife
management.
' There is enough evidence in the form of
fallen trees and remnants of roads to
assume that the Bannockburn Wildlife Area
was quite thoroughly logged about two
generations ago. The young growth which
survived the cutting then is now almost
mature. While under the ownership of Mr.
Webster, the western portion of the property
was used for unimproved pasture, while
some timber removal was carried out in the
forested sections.
Today, the Bannockburn Wildlife Area
has a natural environment character. The
Conservation Authority works to maintain
that quality while carrying out wildlife
habitat improvement, and while allowing
use of the area for nature study and low in-
tensity recreation.
The Conservation Authority has carried
/pout block plantings of certain tree species,
such as red and white pines, to improve
cover for wildlife. Shrubs such •as autumn
olive and high bush cranberry, which are
now flourishing, were planted by the ABCA
to provide food and cover for birds and
small animals. Hawthorns have been left
growing for the same purpose. A number of
bluebird nesting boxes have been installed
by the Conservation Authority to encourage
• this rare bird to nest at Bannockburn.
Public •use of Bannockburn has been ac-
commodated through the maintenance of a
parking lot and a simple trail system that in-
cludes foot bridges across the Walden Creek
and the Bannockburn River. Over the past
several years, public use has been
highlighted by a guided autumn hike, spon-
sored by the Conservation Authority.
For users of the Bannockburn Wildlife
. Area who wish to learn more about its rich
array of natural communities, a self -
guiding brochure is available from the AB -
CA. It is called the Tracks and Tenants
Nature Trail.
1
PROUD
TO BE
IN STANLEY
Enjoy the
Homecoming
Weekend!
‘STEVE'S
CARPENTRY
AND RENOVATIONS
Sieve Grainger
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565-5352
Pane 11
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Sesquicentennial! !
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