ecoLIVING London

A few weeks ago I went for a walk in the woods, but it wasn't just a walk - I was there to do a project. I am taking an online class (Intro to Environmental Stewardship) and my assignment was to pick a site and do an environmental inventory. Truth be told, I had no idea what I was doing, but I was excited to see what I would find. I decided to focus on an Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) by my house called Meadowliliy Woods Nature Preserve. 

How many times have you went for a walk and wondered what you were really looking at? What plants and animals might live in your local fields and forests?

The majority of the assignment was based on tree and plant identification.  It turned out that identification in the field was harder than I thought. I mean I could tell maples and oaks by the leaves, but that was about it. The majority of my identification came later when I had the opportunity to go through the photos and leaf samples I brought home, as well as, the documented research of what was in the study area. Piecing it all together literally took me days, at first I thought one species, but further research showed it was something else.  Using leaf shape, number of ridges and veins, arrangement of leaves and so on, I was eventually able to identify an assortment of trees, shrubs, vines, wild weeds, and flowers. What I did not anticipate was the the amount of diversity we have growing locally, I could never have identified them all.

How can the average person become more informed?
There are currently 16 designated ESA's in London and I encourage everyone to get out and explore the nature in their backyard (and beyond). There are many community groups/nonprofit organizations that are working to protect these areas - many are listed here on the ecoLIVING London website. They act as a wonderful resource, holding meetings and forming committees that Londoners can choose to participate in/on.  I would also like to see user guides for the average citizen that are easily accessible via download or in a little brochure box at the start of the trail. A great way to get kids more involved is to present it as an adventure, perhaps a scavenger hunt where they have to identify a list of items (i.e. find acorns, or 10 different leaves, or berries and fruits etc). 

Happy exploring London!

Karleen Sirna is a Landlocked Marine Biologist, living in London, Ontario.  She does her best to be green and blue:). While currently looking for work in her field she felt inspired to become more involved in the local green community. She decided to do so by writing a blog article for ecoLIVING London.