Alvar Avengers: Seedpod Showdown

Event Details

September 6th, 2018, 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Carden Alvar - Cameron Ranch Property, Orillia, Ontario
Habitat Restoration

Calling all conservation superheroes! The vigorously-growing, invasive dog-strangling vine (DSV) is creeping its way onto the globally rare habitats of the Carden Alvar. By picking and bagging the seedpods before they ripen, you can help stop the spread of this vine and protect the beautiful and rare alvar species that are threatened by its expansion.

Carpooling: If you’re interested in carpooling with other volunteers (driving, or catching a ride) please click here and add your car, or join a car. There’s also a wait list feature if there’s no car listed yet where you’re traveling from. Happy travels!

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More Information

About Carden Alvar – Cameron Ranch Property, Orillia

The Carden Alvar is an outstanding example of globally-threatened alvar habitat which is characterized by thin soils over limestone bedrock. The Carden Alvar NA has been identified as a key biodiversity area within the Great Lakes and is identified in both the terrestrial and aquatic Great Lakes Conservation Blueprints. The Carden Alvar’s grasslands, shrublands, forests and wetlands are home to 450 plant species, 142 butterfly and dragonfly species, 5 turtle species, 7 snake species, 15 amphibian species and a remarkable 238 bird species.

What you will be doing

At this event you will be hand-pulling and clipping dog-strangling vine and garlic mustard seed pods, preventing them from spreading further throughout the rare habitats of the Carden Alvar. We will hike approximately 3 km over rolling terrain to find and collect DSV seedpods, which we will carry out with us in bags.

Why you will love it

Enjoy a day spent on the beautiful and unique Carden Alvar and help protect the rare alvar species from the expansion of dog-strangling vine and garlic mustard.

Questions?

Contact Brittany Hope: Brittany.hope@natureconservancy.ca

Please Note

NCC will provide work gloves and hand pruners, but you may bring your own if you have them. This event will proceed rain or shine, please dress appropriately for the weather.

Additional event details, including directions and parking instructions, will be provided after registration.

Moderate fitness level required
No toilets on site
Carpooling can be arranged
Water and snacks will be provided

NCC would like to thank the Couchiching Conservancy for their ongoing stewardship work and partnership in the Carden Alvar.

Item Checklist

While we do our best to provide you with the tools you need to participate, please bring the following items if you have them:

Clothes
  • Close-toed footwear
  • Long pants
  • Long shirt
  • Layers of clothing (light sweater and jacket)
  • Sun hat
  • Raingear
Tools
  • Work or garden gloves
  • Hand pruners, if you have them
Miscellaneous
  • 1 Litre of water in a reusable bottle
  • Lunch