- DATE OF PURCHASE 1972
- PROPERTY AREA 10.12 ha or 25 acres
- PROPERTY MANAGER Roberta Buchanan
Mandaumin Woods Nature Reserve is a typical Carolinian woodlot in Lambton County comprised of Sugar Maple (34%), Basswood (18%), Beech (17%), White Ash (13%), Hickory (10%), Hop Hornbeam (8%), White Elm, Bitternut and Shagbark Hickories, Bur Oak, Blue Beech, Quaking Willow, Black Alder, Black Cherry, Hawthorne, and Black and Red Ash. The forest understory is blanketed with spring ephemerals from late April through May. Extensive inventories have been made of the vascular plants, breeding birds, and fungi of this property.
Location:
Pt. lot 1, concession 3. City of Sarnia, Frontage on the West side Mandaumin Road, (County Road #26) south of Confederation Line, north of Churchill Line. Property Area: 10.12 ha or 25 acres. Property Manager: Roberta Buchanan.
Access:
You can access this property from Mandaumin Road, south of Confederation Line, north of Churchill Line.
Property Features:
It is a typical Carolinian woodlot in Lambton County , comprised of Sugar Maple (34%), Basswood (18%), Beech (17%), White Ash (13%), Hickory (10%), Hop Hornbeam (8%), White Elm, Bitternut and Shagbark Hickories, Bur Oak, Blue Beech, Quaking Willow, Black Alder, Sugar Maple, Black Cherry, Hawthorne , Black and Red Ash. Extensive inventories have been made of the vascular plants, breeding birds and fungi. There is a trail through the property, which is surrounded by farmland on 3 sides.
History:
The purchase by LWI in 1972 was initiated by Les and Isabel Greenop, with the support of Peter and Elizabeth Tasker, Gerry Clements and Laura Knight. A fundraising committee under the leadership of Joan Banks, raised the funds over a 2 year period. The Mandaumin Woods Nature Reserve was formally opened on April 26, 1975 and dedicated to the memory of LWI conservationist Laura Knight. The Alexander Vidal Chapter of the I.O.D.E. provided funding for the gate, in memory of Lois Smart. A management plan was produced under the guidance of Tony Roach in 1993 and updated in 1995.
In addition to individual natural history study uses by members and the public, a series of organized nature walks have been offered since 1975. Ron LaFlair organized the first, with Gerry Clements the guide for birds and Les Greenop for botany. Gerry Clements continued to the driving force on these walks for many years, being followed by Keith Wilson, Ben & Brenda Kulon, Carole Buck, Lance Allin, Tony Roach and John Teasel. More recently Nick Alexander has lead outings to view the woodland’s spring ephemerals and the first BioBlitz held by Lambton Wildlife took place on the property in 2015.
LWI is considering expanding ownership in the area of this property as it is designated in the County of Lambton Official Plan as “Significant Natural Area” and woodlots within this designation are Significant Woodlots under the Provincial Policy Statement. It is also designated to be within an area shown as a “Secondary Corridor”. The City of Sarnia Official Plan designates it as an “Environmental Protection Area”, within the Natural Heritage & Natural Hazard areas. The Sarnia Official Plan also designated the area in the back lots of Concessions 3 and 4 as a “Secondary Natural Heritage Corridor”. The intent of both Official Plans is to have the woodlots in this area expanded, not reduced.