PelhamToday received the following letter to the editor regarding a recent nature walk in Fonthill:
Pelham Advocates for Trees and Habitat held two free guided nature hikes for the public on Saturday, October 26. Each morning and afternoon hike had 18 participants who benefited from the hikes led by Albert Garofalo.
Mr. Garofalo is an ecologist who has worked with various government agencies, including Environment Canada and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, as a Natural Heritage Biologist and Wetlands Evaluator, focusing on Great Lakes coastal wetlands as well as for various conservation authorities conducting Natural Area Inventories, including the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Conservation Halton, and the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority.
Albert also worked with the Bert Miller Nature Club in partnership with the Niagara Frontier Botanical Society. He led the Lake Erie Coast Project, which completed a binational inventory of parts of the Lake Erie shoreline and continues to enhance freshwater sand dunes through beach grass plantings and landowner stewardship. Albert instructs Flora Identification at Niagara College at the Welland location.
The Lathrop Preserve, owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, is located north of Marlene Stewart Streit Park. It contains many rare flora and old-growth Carolinian trees native to this area. This preserve contains red, white, and black oaks, white spruce, flowering dogwood (an endangered species), black cherry, sassafras, sugar maples, tulip and bitternut, pignut and shagbark hazel, and many other Carolinian species native to this area.
The day was excellent for hiking. There was not a mosquito nor a tick to be found, only the warmth of the autumn sun shining through the foliage. The hikers ranged from young teenagers to seniors. The dirt trails were dry, full of leaves and acorns, with steep slopes at times, but because of the leisurely stroll, everyone managed the Preserve’s challenge.
The majestic trees sent their leaves fluttering down upon us with the slightest breezes. Cool spring water flowed in the lowlands and ravines. Watercress adorned the banks of the spring feed streams. Witch Hazel trees were in bloom, and wild ginger and winter mint grew around the base of old-growth trees.
At the end of each invigorating hike, participants were full of praise for Albert Garofalo's enlightening guidance through the Lathrop Preserve’s Carolinian forest and flora. Their positive feedback is a testament to the success of these hikes, which furthered PATH’s mission of outreach and public education on the invaluable role of trees and the value of preserving our natural heritage.
As the President of Pelham Advocates for Trees and Habitat (PATH), I am thrilled to share the success of our recent event, the Autumn Hike in Lathrop Preserve.
Mike Jones
Fonthill
