From Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation (CCIPR):

Halton Hills’ call to stop the import and sale of invasive species is gaining traction in other areas of the province.

Thorold Council has thrown its support behind a motion from the Town of Halton Hills urging the provincial and federal governments to do more to fight invasive species.

The resolution, which is being circulated to municipalities across Ontario, calls on the province to work with organizations including the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Rural Ontario Municipalities Association (ROMA), conservation authorities, Indigenous groups and the Ontario Invasive Plant Council to modernize its invasive species rules, including expanding the list of prohibited species that can be sold in nurseries and garden centres.

“We don’t recognize them because we see them as plants, but these plants are very destructive,” Thorold Councillor Tim O’Hare said. “They cause disruption to municipal infrastructure, to our parks, to our roadways.”

https://shrlnk.ca/s/7loH5588

From Parks Canada:

This week, the Government of Canada and its partners celebrated a significant step in the designation process of the proposed national urban park in the Windsor area, with the acquisition of 19 hectares of the former Windsor Raceway lands.

As the project advances, the partners will continue to work together to finalize interim operational plans, engage communities, and bring this important initiative to life as a shared commitment to conservation, reconciliation, and the creation of lasting benefits for communities across the region.

Learn more about this important milestone: https://www.canada.ca/…/government-of-canada-and…

From Fisheries and Oceans Canada:

A historic milestone for freshwater species recovery in Canada!

Yesterday, our scientists and partners successfully reintroduced hundreds of kidneyshell mussels to Medway Creek in London, Ontario.

This marks the first freshwater mussel reintroduction in Canadian waters undertaken to support the recovery of an aquatic species under the Species at Risk Act.

Following years of habitat restoration, scientific research, and successful cage trials, Medway Creek was selected as a suitable location to help restore this endangered species to part of its historic range.

This achievement reflects the collaboration of our science and Species at Risk programs, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, White Lake Fish Cultural Station, the University of Windsor, Central Michigan University, Chippewa Nation, the City of London, Ontario – Municipal Government and many other project partners.

Over the coming years, scientists will monitor the reintroduced population to assess survival, growth, and reproduction, helping guide future freshwater mussel recovery efforts across Canada.

Learn more about species at risk: https://ow.ly/aNcC50ZrTNa

From Unusual Facts:

Discovered by ecologist Burton Barnes, Utah’s famous “Pando” grove stands as one of the heaviest and oldest living organisms on Earth. Spanning over 100 acres, its 47,000 quaking aspen trunks are genetically identical clones connected entirely by a single massive root system.

From Saving Monarchs:

From Foraging for Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Hedgewitchery Herbs

Reminder-Fawn Season ****Don’t be a fawnnapper! It’s very common for moms to leave babies for the day while they forage. It’s their hope that if they leave it near humans that it will help keep predators away. Doe will often hide fawns near your home or even right outside your home. The mother visits very briefly only a couple times a day to feed the fawn and move it to a new location. If humans or pets are around, most Does stay away from their fawn to avoid drawing attention to its location and return when the threat has passed. Please keep pets leashed when walking by tall grassed these nest few weeks.

From Thefarmacyreal:

Dr. Qing Li, a Japanese-based immunologist originally from China, dedicated over two decades to scientifically validating the healing power of nature through the practice of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”. His pioneering research focused on phytoncides, which are natural antimicrobial compounds and essential oils released by trees like cedars and pines to protect themselves from insects and disease. Through rigorous clinical studies, Dr. Li demonstrated that when humans inhale these airborne chemicals during a walk in the woods, the compounds enter the bloodstream and trigger profound physiological changes. His work effectively bridged the gap between ancient intuitive wisdom and modern biological science, proving that the forest acts as a natural medicine cabinet.

Dr. Li’s breakthrough findings revealed that these plant chemicals actively hunt down and reduce stress hormones while simultaneously supercharging the human immune system. His testing showed that exposure to phytoncides significantly decreases levels of cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the body. More importantly, his 20 years of research proved that breathing in the forest air dramatically boosts the activity and number of natural killer (NK) cells, a type of white blood cell vital for fighting off viruses and tumor cells. Remarkably, Dr. Li discovered that a single two-day trip to a forest could enhance NK cell activity for up to 30 days, providing conclusive evidence that trees physically alter our blood chemistry to fight stress and disease.

From Saving Monarchs:

Want to attract more butterflies to your garden? Make a simple hydration puddling dish!

Butterflies can’t get all the minerals they need from nectar alone. They often gather around mud puddles to sip water and absorb essential salts and nutrients—a behavior called “puddling.”

To make your own butterfly puddling station:

• Use a shallow dish or plant saucer

• Fill it with sand, soil, or small pebbles

• Keep it moist with water

• Place it in a sunny spot near flowers

It’s an easy way to support butterflies during the hot summer months while giving you a front-row seat to watch them up close!

There are a lot of events happening in the area to help promote awareness of nature and conservation. We’re happy to share a number of them. Check out our Facebook page for more information.

Seed Change for Systems Change – June 18 from noon to 2 p.m. – via ZOOM

Pond Exploration – 1424 Clarke Rd, London, Ontario – July 2 at 10:30 a.m.

Speaking of Wildlife at Pittock! – Pittock Conservation Area – July 11 at 1 p.m.

Owl Prowl at Fanshawe CA – 1424 Clarke Rd, London, Ontario – July 15 at 8:30 p.m.

Bug Safari at Fanshawe CA – 1424 Clarke Rd, London, Ontario – July 18 at 10:30 a.m.

In this vast country we can surely set aside required space for birds and other species while building Canada Strong…

From Birds Canada:

Today, organizations across Canada are raising concerns about decisions that the federal Government is making that will have lasting impacts on nature and wildlife.

We often hear that protecting the environment and supporting the economy are competing goals, but they don’t have to be. Over the last few weeks, a series of worrisome policy decisions have been made which will have compounding impacts on the birds we all love. Taken together, these decisions are pushing our ecosystems—the environments we depend on—too far. For ourselves, and for the birds, we must do more. We must do better.

And we can do better. Strong environmental protections and effective economic policies can go hand in hand. Birds Canada is directly contributing solutions to make that happen.

Read the full statement from our President & CEO Patrick Nadeau: https://tinyurl.com/mteafwnk