🌱Things are growing at the Iroquois Beach!🌱
This week, amazing student volunteers from Seaway District High School - UCDSB came out to help plant a brand-new Miyawaki Forest! A huge shoutout and thank you to Mrs. Kennedy and all the hardworking students who put gloves on and shovels in the ground.
Together, these hardworking students planted over 475 native trees and shrubs packed into a compact, high-density area right along the waterfront giving our new forest the absolute best start possible!
🌳What is a Miyawaki Forest?
Developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, this planting method packs a high diversity of native trees and shrubs very close together. By mimicking a natural woodland, the plants naturally compete and cooperate, growing up to 10 times faster than conventional reforestation projects!
Why it matters for our waterfront:
🌿Self-Sustaining: Requires minimal maintenance once established.
🐦Local Wildlife: Creates rich habitat and food sources for native birds and pollinators.
🌊River Resilience: Boosts soil health and helps protect our St. Lawrence River shoreline.
🌍Climate Action: Speeds up natural carbon absorption.
This green initiative was made possible through a fantastic collaboration between South Nation Conservation, the Municipality of South Dundas, and the Iroquois Waterfront Committee. Plus, some grant funding!
Next time you’re out for a walk along the river, take a peak at the east end of the beach and watch our new mini-forest take root!