Essex Region Conservation Authority

Have you ever wondered what types of trees are growing in your own yard or maybe at your favourite picnic spot? Join the Essex Region Conservation Authority’s Forestry Technician for an informative talk and hike through the trees of two Conservation Areas this month. Hikers will discover the tricks of the trade to le...arning how to easily identify the tree species they encounter.

The hikes will be conducted at Camp Cedarwin and Kopegaron Conservation Area. These very unique areas of Essex County provide opportunities to see a variety of Carolinian tree species. The hikes are open to the public and are free of charge and take place from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday July 22 at Camp Cedarwin and Wednesday July 29 at Kopegaron CA . It is recommended to wear closed shoes, long pants, and bring tree guide, bug spray, and your own water.

Walking along Conservation Area trails is a fun, safe and healthy way to experience the outdoors in the Essex Region. For more information on these hikes and other events please call 519-776-5209 or visit www.erca.org


Hike details are as follows:
Wednesday July 22 at Camp Cedarwin 6:30- 8 pm
The camp is located at 1495 County Road 23 (Arner Townline), Essex

Wednesday July 29 at Kopegaron CA 6:30- 8 pm
Located at 762 Talbot Rd E. (County Rd. 34 near Wheatley), Leamington


Read More

Essex - Remember the days when your parents used to tell you to 'Eat your greens!' Well, these days everyone is trying to 'green' their eats. We make every effort from bringing reusable bags to the grocery store to buying fair-trade sustainably harvested coffee. However, there is one simple thing that we could all do t...o improve our health and reduce our impacts on the environment - we could become Locavores.

Locavores challenge themselves to consume foods grown within a 100 mile radius of their home. In addition to supporting local agriculture, it also brings awareness and appreciation about the origins of our food. Shopping locally is 'green', it helps to reduce our carbon emissions and natural resource use.

This event highlights Locavore opportunities in Essex County. You can learn more about this 'green' movement as you savour an afternoon by the Lake enjoying live music, tasting locally grown foods, a fine array of local wines and more. Also featured will be 'food for thought' sessions, wherein local farmers and food producers share their specific knowledge about their products and the delicious bounty that our region offers and the benefits of buying local.

Be sure to attend this unique event to learn more. Advance ticket sales only. Last year's event was sold out!
Read More

The Friends of Turkey Creek (FOTC) are pleased to host the Seventh Annual Turkey Creek Canoe Race & Cleanup on Saturday, June 27, 2009. Registration begins at noon, and the race starts at 1:00 pm sharp! All are welcome - including corporate teams! Cost to enter the race is $10 per person, or $20 per team. All proceeds ...will go towards future stewardship efforts of the Friends of Turkey Creek. A free barbecue lunch will be available for all participants. All teams will also be entered in a draw for corporate sponsorship to win back their registration fee. In an effort to reduce the use of plastic water bottles, participants are encouraged to bring their own refillable water bottle.

Participants will launch at the footbridge in Vince Marcotte Park in LaSalle, in either direction, and will collect garbage as they paddle out. Paddlers have two hours to collect as much garbage as they can. At 3:00 pm, paddlers will return to the starting point, at which point their 'haul' will be unloaded. Each team will be judged for the most garbage, the most unusual piece of garbage removed from the creek, and the best-decorated canoe. Prizes will be awarded accordingly. The winning team will also have their picture taken with our Turkey Creek Canoe Race trophy!

If you have a canoe, or other non-motorized watercraft, please bring it! Each participant must have a personal flotation device (life jacket), and each canoe must be equipped with a bailer and a throw bag with line & whistle. A limited number of canoes and associated gear will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Gloves & garbage bags will also be provided for the cleanup.

The FOTC would like to thank supporters of this event, including Active Body Physical Therapy, The Beer Store (Amherstburg location), CIBC (Malden Road location), The Clean Machine Mobile Wash, the Essex Region Conservation Authority, Got Junk?, Hiram Walker & Sons Limited, Parks Canada ? Point Pelee National Park, Pure Nature, ShopEco Environmental Products, Sylvan Learning Centre, and the Town of LaSalle.

The FOTC have been working in partnership with the Essex Region Conservation Authority, meeting on a monthly basis since 1999. The FOTC is a grassroots, community-based organization committed to the enhancement and restoration of natural habitat within the Turkey Creek Watershed. Each year, the FOTC conduct creek clean ups, plant trees and undertake other important restoration work. They hope everyone with a canoe will bring their family out to enjoy an afternoon of fun at Marcotte Park in LaSalle.

For more information, please contact Caroline Biribauer, Friends of Watersheds Organizer, at 519-776-5209, ext. 245, cbiribauer@erca.org , or visit www.erca.org. Read More