Wetland is growing collaboration, speaker says
Wetland at Serenity Nature Reserve in Grand Bend is growing collaboration, speaker David Carter says
David Carter, director with Phil McNamee Charitable Foundation, spoke to close to 100 guests, at Ausable Bayfield Conservation’s Partner Appreciation Evening on March 20, about collaboration to create Serenity Nature Reserve wetland
A new wetland, at Serenity Nature Reserve in the Grand Bend area, is a growing community collaboration, said David Carter, a director on the Board of Directors of Phil McNamee Charitable Foundation (PMCF). He spoke to close to 100 guests at Ausable Bayfield Conservation’s annual Partner Appreciation Evening on March 20, 2025.
The work of PMCF includes scholarships and protecting the environment through the acquisition and enhancement of two nature reserves. PMCF scholarships are for graduating secondary-school students, who have overcome an obstacle but maintain good grades, to help them pursue post-secondary education.
The PMCF properties are 35-acre Solitude Nature Reserve, near Port Stanley, and 40-acre Serenity Nature Reserve, at 70050 Corbett Line, near Grand Bend. Serenity Nature Reserve was purchased in 2023 and established in 2024.
The grand opening of the reserve is in summer of 2025. It will have free, accessible day use and 2.3 kilometres of hiking trails. “Look for an announcement of a grand opening, sometime this summer,” Carter said.
The guest speaker recognized the work of PMCF founder Phil McNamee. Richard Louv’s book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, had a big influence on McNamee, Carter said.
Nature reserves are important, the presenter said, to improve physical and mental well-being, to provide free and accessible hiking, and to encourage more outdoor time in nature and less time inside on screens and devices. The nature reserves provide habitat for species such as the Green Heron. During his presentation, Carter shared photos of wildflowers and young people exploring nature in the great outdoors at the properties.
More than 70 per cent of southwestern Ontario wetlands (including open-water wetlands, marshes, swamps, fens, and bogs) have been lost, the presenter said. Wetlands are important as they provide diverse habitat for species; recharge groundwater; improve water quality; reduce flooding and erosion; and provide recreation.
The wetland at Serenity Nature Reserve is relatively new, Carter said. The wetland there has a marsh with a depth of 5-6 feet. The wetland is graded to collect runoff. Earthworks and seeding took place at the property in the autumn of 2024 and trees are being planted at the site in the spring of 2025.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) staff worked with PMCF to construct the wetland and sow native wildflower seeds at the Nature Reserve. There are more than 20 species of native wildflowers sown at the site. ABCA staff plan to plant 5,000 trees over seven acres in spring of 2025. The tree species include White Pine; Cedar; Oak; Birch; Black Cherry; Hickory; and Tulip Tree. Later in 2025, ABCA staff plan to plant 500 plants, to stabilize berms at the site. Species include Marsh Marigold; Blue Flag Iris; and Blazing Star.
Technical support from wetlands experts at ABCA, combined with the important support of funding partners, is allowing PCMF to create progress at a faster pace than it could without those partnerships, the keynote speaker said. “We’re really grateful to have the collaboration we do have with Ausable Bayfield Conservation … and we’re really grateful for the funding we have received, from various funders, for this project.”
Financial support has come from Forests Canada’s 50 Million Tree Program; Great Lakes Local Action Fund; ABCA; and Huron Clean Water Project, among others.
PMCF was established in 2010. To learn more about Serenity Nature Reserve, at Phil McNamee Charitable Foundation, visit the PMC Foundation website.
The ABCA partner appreciation event was held at Ironwood Golf Club east of Exeter. ABCA presented Lambton Shores Nature Trails (LSNT) with the Conservationist of the Year Award during the event. ABCA directors Adrian Cornelissen; Dave Jewitt; and Marissa Vaughan received awards for Six Years of Service and ABCA staff member Rosalind Chang, Healthy Watersheds Technician, received a Five-Year Service Award.
PHOTO: GUEST SPEAKER DAVID CARTER SPEAKS ON WETLANDS THEME – Angela Van Niekerk, Wetlands Specialist with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), presents a copy of Living with Nature (a local guide to planting native species of plants), and a donation to Phil McNamee Charitable Foundation (PMCF), to ABCA Partner Appreciation Evening guest speaker David Carter, a PMCF director, following his talk on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The keynote presenter spoke about Creating a Wetland: A Growing Collaboration at Serenity Nature Reserve in Grand Bend. Close to 100 people attended the event, held at Ironwood Golf Club east of Exeter.