Northumberland Land Trust set to burn two nature reserves
A controlled burn. Photo courtesy of Northumberland Land Trust.
By Syed Rizvi, Special to Northumberland 89.7 FM News.
The Northumberland Land Trust (NLT) will start two prescribed burns at its Pelton Nature Reserve, and McEwen Nature Reserves. Officials explained the prescribed burns are essential to restoring and revitalizing native tallgrass prairie habitat in Northumberland County by removing invasive species, which tend to sprout early and encouraging the growth of native species.
“The burns are very well controlled; they will progress few meters per minute. It’s a very slow process, as the burn progresses, they light the edges. It will eventually burn all the dead grasses. The main reason to burn is to maintain the grassland rather than let the forest approach. Secondly, it will help to control some species from coming in. It will allow the sun to come to the ground and warm the soil,” said John Geale, a former board member and former board member and current property steward at the NLT’s McEwen Nature Reserve.
“Grasslands are of particular interest because such habitats have undergone a drastic reduction in Ontario over the past century. As a result, many grassland plant and animal species have similarly declined to the point where many are now considered species at risk. Ashes will provide the fertilizer that will help to re-javanite the land. The grass comes back remarkably quickly after the burn, It will help animals to graze the grass on the land.”
For safety reasons, the public is not allowed access to the prescribed burn areas during the burns. Theses burns will take place in mid to late April or early May 2025.
