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MAP LOCATION THE HISTORY OF THE MEDWAY VALLEY HERITAGE FOREST 500 years ago: The Medway Valley was occupied by a late Ontario Iroquois tribe of about 1000 in numbers. The Neutral Indian Village stood on a bluff overlooking Snake Creek and the Medway River, which is now the site of the Museum of Archaeology. The rest of the valley was used for food gathering, hunting and fishing by the tribe. 1813+: This is the time when land was first granted for settlement use by the European Immigrants. At the same time forestry and logging became the major source of livelihood in the area. This meant that the forests were logged for both local use and for European export. After logging the clearings were either converted to pastureland, planted with grain for new crops, or used as orchards. 1818-1823: The Village of Arva was settled. 1850: William Turville constructed two gristmills, the remains of the dike that retained the mill pond are still visible today. 1850+:
Residential settlement was limited during the next 125
years 1850’s-1860’s: Some Archaeological artifacts were discovered and excavated within the Valley. 1877: The Elsie Perrin Williams Estate was built. 1878: The development of walkways, bike paths, river crossings, and picnic areas introduced people to the natural features of the valley. 1880: Significant deforestation is present due to the expanding agricultural use. 1928: A substantial increase in forest cover developed as a result of natural succession on the ungrazed pastures. This occurred because the lands were left idle during the shift from agriculture to residential land use. 1950’s: Medway Heights was the first subdivision to be built on lands adjacent to the Valley. The land was primarily used for rural agriculture. 1950’s: Informal excavations on the site continued. Many of the artifacts were found until this date. Since 1960’s: The Medway Trail was developed and maintained by the private landowners. The trail extended from the University of Western to Fanshawe Park Road. The Thames Valley Trail Association presently maintains it. 1979: The Elsie Perrin Williams Estate became property of the City of London, it is a manicured park setting that once included a golf course. June 1989: The Medway Valley Heritage Forest was designated a Natural Area in the City of London Official Plan. 1989: A Life Science Inventory of the Lower Medway River was prepared. As well, a Conservation Master Plan was prepared. 1989: The most popular activities within the Valley included walking, nature appreciation, bird watching, cross-country skiing and jogging. 1990’s: Land division continues today, leaving a river environment that is almost completely surrounded by residential and institutional land use. 1990: An amendment to the Conservation Master Plan was completed. The City Council deleted the “no bikeways” recommendation. 1993: An independent group of cyclists constructed a switch back improvement to the pathway system that re-routed an existing trail traveling down a steeply sloping section of the Valley wall. Subsequent investigations by the City of London Police Department in conjunction with the City Council led to the restriction of any form of cycling in the Medway Valley Heritage Forest. Enforcement is difficult and today, cycling continues. 1995: A Site Planning Study was conducted. 1999: Today the perimeter of the site is now entirely urbanized. There has been an increase in forest cover due to the decline of forestry practices, and an increase in residential use. |
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USES
OF THE MEDWAY VALLEY HERITAGE FOREST The City of London By-laws prohibit the riding of bicycles in the Medway Valley Heritage Forest. However, many cyclists use the valley regularly. Bicycles are prohibited because they;
Educational opportunities within the Forest include interpretive hikes and environmental projects. Educational activities are usually carried out by local youth groups and schools. Several trail guides, walking tours and information brochures have been published by the Medway Valley News. Nature walks are offered by the McIlwraith Field Naturalists of London and the Medway Valley News Association. These walks are the result of the Thames Valley Trail Association and the Medway Valley News Association who maintain the established system of footpaths and hiking trails. The University of Western Ontario tends to use the Medway Valley as a teaching resource and as a natural lab for individual student projects and class exercises. The ecological processes that can be seen here include: succession, wetland development, erosion, nutrient recycling, alien species invasion and the effects of pollution and recreation pressure. As a result of the natural features of the land, the Valley has been designated as a Natural Area. This is mainly due to the fact that it is one of the largest of a few unmanicured “green” areas within London. This Natural Area is predominantly used for passive recreation. It offers its visitors many “urban wilderness” recreational and experiential opportunities and also holds high educational value. As well, the Medway Valley Heritage Forest contains unusual vegetative habitats, including a black walnut savannah and a small wet flood plain meadow.
HABITAT AREAS IN THE MEDWAY VALLEY The Medway Valley Heritage Forest is approximately 5 acres in size. The Medway River runs through a valley creating upland forest areas and valley slopes. The Medway River provides an aquatic habitat for many species. There is forest habitat, flood plain (wet meadow) habitat and seasonal wetland areas. An upland forest is surrounded by residential property on the south and west, an open field to the east, wooded river bluffs on the west and north, as well as a steep open slip face to the northwest. There is an open meadow that is succeeding to a walnut savannah. Old orchards and abandoned pastures have been overcome with hawthorn, grey dogwood, apple, white elm, basswood, black locust, Manitoba maple, and aspen. The grassy meadows contain a variety of wildflowers. The flood plains beside the Medway River contain many of the same tree species as the valley. COME
AND ENJOY THE FOREST HABITAT... FOREST
HABITAT Many nut producing trees (mast trees) such as oak, beech and hickory supply food for the woodland creatures. Without these trees in the forest the animals would either starve or move to another forest that contained these trees. Conifer trees or “evergreens” are important because they are used as shelter and cover from the snow, wind and rain by many forest animals. Even dead trees have a place in the forest since all of the dead logs and leaves on the forest floor provide habitat for insects and amphibians, which in turn are food for other animals. THE
CAROLINIAN FOREST LIFEZONE: Much of Ontario’s rare and endangered species can be found nestled away in the last remaining acres of the Carolinian Forest. Species that can be seen here include trees such as Sassafras, the Tulip Tree, Blue Ash, Flowering Dogwood, Chestnut, Hop Tree, Paw Paw, Black Gum, Cucumber Tree and the Kentucky Coffee Tree. The Green Dragon, the Creeping Fragile Fern, Swamp Rose Mallow, Lizard’s Tail, Yellow Mandarin, Virginia Bluebells and Oswego Tea are a few of Canada’s rare plants existing now only within the Carolinian Zone. Bird species, such as, the Acadian Flycatcher, Summer Tanager, Carolina Wren and the Prothonotary Warbler can be seen flying overhead. Some mammals are restricted to this area, these include the Badger, Eastern Mole, the Southern Flying Squirrel and the Opossum. Unfortunately this life zone is one of the most threatened landscapes in Ontario, covering less than 1% of Canada, but yet it is home to more rare plants and animals than any other region in the country. This is mainly because the species found here are at the northern most point of their habitat. As well, these species live in developed and settled landscapes, resulting in a minimum amount of habitat remaining. It is found within an extremely busy corridor between Windsor and Toronto. Urbanization, agriculture and industry have destroyed a large portion of this beautiful forest. Because of this the Canadian Carolinian Forest has been a focus for conservation and stewardship. If you would like to learn more about the Carolinian Life Zone, or have any questions please do not hesitate to contact: CAROLINIAN
CANADA LIFE
IN A FOREST
WELCOME
TO THE MEDWAY VALLEY AQUATIC HABITAT AQUATIC
LIFE
Fishing is mainly for recreation, by children and teenagers from the nearby residential area. Here are some aquatic habitat species that you might find:
*Many mammals use the aquatic habitat for water, food and shelter. Beaver, muskrats, mink, opossums, and raccoons are some of the mammals you might see in or near an aquatic area. Very often you will be able to find their tracks. WELCOME
TO THE MEDWAY VALLEY GRASSLAND
HABITAT A meadow is an open, treeless area covered by grasses and is usually the result of a disturbance. Meadows are the first stage of forest regeneration. These areas have hundreds of different species of grasses and wildflowers. Grasses make up between 50-75% of all plants found in tall grass prairies. The most common grasses found within a Tall grass Prairie includes: Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Indian Grass and Switch grass. Some plants that can be found within this habitat include Wild Lupine, Gray-headed Coneflower, Prairie Smoke, Wild Bergamot, Butterfly Weed, Blazing Asters, Goldenrods and Sunflowers. Before
European Settlement tall grass prairies were abundant in Southern
Ontario. Now, they are endangered. Less than 3% of the original
tall grass prairies still exist in Ontario today. The prairies
were converted into agricultural fields and pastures. However,
restoration projects are underway in Southern Ontario to help
save the prairie. Unfortunately, along with the loss of habitat
comes the loss of species. Of the plant species considered rare
in Ontario, approximately 20% are associated with prairie ecosystems. LIFE IN A GRASSLAND
Back
to top WETLAND
HABITAT
marshes,
swamps, bogs and fens.
MARSHES Some of the trees that can be seen in a swamp include Eastern White Cedar, Balsam Poplar, Red Maple, Silver Maple, Black Ash, Tamarack and Spruce. A variety of shrubs are located here: Alder, Willow, Button Bush, Winterberry and Dogwood. The ground is carpeted with mosses, ferns and wildflowers including Marsh Marigold, Skunk Cabbage and Orchids. BOGS FENS LIFE
IN A WETLAND
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