The Land's Inlet Nature Project: Restoring Nature in Hamilton's North End
Little Helper (Photo: Danacia Kieffer)
Progress to Date
Through the HNC's Land's Inlet Nature Project a small area in Hamilton's North End neighbourhood is being transformed. The project aims to involve north end residents in creating a corridor of native species that will attract birds, butterflies and other living things while cutting traffic noise, adding shade and improving the aesthetics of the neighbourhood. Thanks to funding from the Hamilton Community Foundation and a Walmart/Evergreen Green Grant; support from Southern Ontario Railway, which leases and manages the land; and, the help of dozens of local residents and volunteers the vision is well on it's way to becoming a reality.
Since November 2006, fifteen work parties and other activities have taken place at the project site attracting over 300 participants. We started in November 2006 by clearing an area that had been taken over by Japanese Knotweed - an invasive non-native species that had choked out native species. Fifty new Canadian youth and their families participating in the Junior Ecoleaders Program(which is sponsored by the Royal Botanical Garden's, Settlement and Integration Services and the Parks Canada Discovery Centre) helped pull up the knotweed.
Public input on the project was sought at a stakeholders meeting in December 2006 and a community open house in January 2007. More than 90 people participated in the events, at least half of them North End residents. The open house was a forum for residents to give their thoughts on the project, and the idea got an overwhelming thumbs up, with many excellent ideas coming forward. Several residents have become involved offered to be on the project's steering committee, and even more have helped with planting and other activities, including kids from the North Hamilton Community Health Centre's Children's Outdoor and Environment Club.
Junior Ecoleader volunteers battling knotweed
In February and March 2007 senior students at St. Lawrence School took soil samples to help us determine what plants would grow well there and did clean-up work at the site.
Our battle with the knotweed continued in April 2007. Using a pesticide-free approach we covered the area with multiple layers of cardboard, topped with compost and woodchips to try and prevent the knotweed shoots from seeing daylight. Dozens of hand tools and six wheelbarrows were in constant motion as two large trailer loads of brush and debris were cleared and 30 cubic yards of cardboard, compost and woodchips were applied. North Enders young and old showed that they can work hard, help nature, have fun and build community - all at the same time. A big thank you is due to Waste Management Corporation for donating the compost (made from leaf and yard waste) and to Scott Young for delivering the compost to the site. Thanks also to the City of Hamilton Forestry Department for providing the wood chips and to Tim Horton's at Cannon and Bay and North End Neighbours for providing and organizing refreshments.
Bown-eyed Susans (Photo: Danacia Kieffer)
The next step was to begin transforming an adjacent area that was bulldozed clear in 2006 for a gas line relocation into a flowering oasis of prairie and meadow species. Planting work started in early June and by mid July A fifty meter by 10 metre area has been transformed with the planting of 50 shrubs and small trees and over 1,200 wildflower and grass plugs.
Tree and shrub species planted include Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica), Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago), Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), Alternative- leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), Ninebark (Physocarpus opulinifolius), Southern Arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum), Red cedar (Juniper virginiana), Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), American Plum (Prunus Americana), Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana), and Common Elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis). A large variety of wildflowers and prairie grasses were also planted including: Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus), Flat-topped Aster (Aster umbellatus), Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum), Virginia Wild Rye (Elymus virginicus)' Riverbank Rye (Elymus ryparius), Swamp Milkweed (Asciepias incarnate), Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum), Pale Flag Iris (Iris virginicus), New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis), New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus), and Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana).
Land's Inlet before planting
Land's Inlet after planting
All the planting work at the site was undertaken by volunteers. Two more large groups of new Canadians from the Royal Botanical Gardens Junior Ecoleaders Program participated. The Ministry of Natural Resources' Hamilton/Brant Stewardship Ranger Crew, built a retaining wall at the site with and Southern Ontario Railway donating railway ties. Thank you all!
Despite a record dry spell most of the species planted are doing quite well, with several species flowering and producing fruit/seeds. Mulching of the area planted and a few timely waterings have helped keep things growing.
Our battle with the Japanese Knotweed continued throughout the year. This tough plant has pushed its way through the cardboard in many spots, but hopefully continued pulling and spraying with vinegar solution has weakened it - but we'll likely be dealing with this alien invader for a while. By October we were ready to do some tree planting in the "knotweed area" adjacent to Simcoe Street. Through three planting events we put in more than a dozen good sized trees. Species included Common Hackberry, Sycamore, Redbud, Burr Oak, Black Ash and Staghorn Sumac.
Plans are underway to expand the area to be planted in 2008 and to continue the project into 2009. We are currently finalizing an agreement with the City of Hamilton that will allow the project to expand onto city owned parkland north of Simcoe Street (all work to date has taken place on lands leased by Southern Ontario Railway). To find out more or to be volunteer for planting events, get on our mailing list or help with project planning contact Julia Kollek at (905) 627 5410 or
Land's Inlet - if we build it (maybe) they'll come
Land's Inlet Project Manager, Al Ernest, shows how to make the bird boxes.
(Photo: Julia Kollek )
by Julia Kollek
Spring is for the birds - Bluebirds that is - and what better place to make a home than in the North End? With help from the Land's Inlet Nature Project, local children set to and built Bluebird nesting boxes, which will be placed on the project site (at Simcoe St East west of Wellington St North) and elsewhere in the north end in the coming months. Kids from the Children's Outdoors and Environment Club learned that there were several important things to remember when making a blue bird box. The hole had to be just the right size, to prevent other species from getting in instead. Also, young Bluebirds need a place close by to land as they learn to fly, so it's important for the box to face nearby shrubs or branches.
The event was organized by the North Hamilton Community Health Centre. The children made the boxes out of used cedar fence boards, and made sure to leave a gap near the top flap to allow a little fresh air into the nest.
Bluebirds are scarce in the inner city, but the area near our project site provides suitable habitat and recent planting will provide enhanced food sources and perching sites. These beautiful song birds secondary cavity nesters who normally make their homes in holes made by other birds and in dead or dying trees, but readily accept substitutes like the bird boxes. Bluebirds can nest two or three times a season and the females can lay up to seven eggs each time. While it may take a few seasons to before the Bluebirds notice our boxes, we hope they'll make our meadow area their home.
For more images of the Land's Inlet Nature Project visit our photo galleries.
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