|
|
|
Geocachers Discover the Sawyer Woodlot
November 13, 2011
Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online. Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica. After 10 years of activity there are over 1,532,000 active geocaches published on various websites. There are over 5 million geocachers worldwide. In the past 30 days, more than 5.7 million geocache reports have been posted.
Geocaching members may be locals, but frequently are from a distance. Initially, a player will obtain information regarding hidden caches from a website - that includes gps co-ordinates and a general description of the location and the cache type. For most participants, the search for the cache is mainly to follow the clues and become modern day explorers. The cache itself, is just the bait. Their big reward is what they experience along the way.
This summer, with the permission of the Board of Directors, 3 geocaches were placed in the woodlot. Since that time, there have been more than a dozen geocachers in the woodlot. The following are some of their comments:
- A great woodlot.
- What a wonderful wood lot. This is what I like about geocaching. You find out about some wonderful spots.
- Nice wooded lot with some nice trails, didn't know that it was here.
- . . . very informing with all the description of the different vegetation and trees.
- Trails are easy to get through.
- . . . enjoying the area, reading the signs as we hiked along. A great spot!
- An interesting hike in these woods, will be back when there is less bug activity.
- Some really great trails here.
- A very educational and fun series! We love seeing the little birdhouses scattered along the trail ... obviously a youth group project, or maybe a school class. One that we checked even has the remains of a nest in it!
- What a wonderful wood lot.
- What an amazing place... it's obvious a large amount of work goes into maintaining this woodlot. A nice hike on the trails this morning with the fall colours.
- What a great woodlot! We were amazed at the amount of work put into the trails and signs. A wonderful resource for folks in the area!
- Cool spot and full of information.
- . . . another nice area to go for a walk
- What a great spot! Had no idea this was here. We really enjoyed the hike.
- . . . a great location, will be back
- Very nice location; I'll definitely be back with my entire family
For those wishing to know more about Geocaching, visit the official website: http://www.geocaching.com. Also, take a look at Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia for a comprehensive description of the game.
|
|
Spring Work Bee
Saturday April 30, 2011
A bright warm spring day greeted 13 dedicated members & friends as they tended to various tasks to ready the woodlot for the coming season.
Along the stream area, a walking bridge was installed allowing pedestrian traffic to enter the woodlot from the road. A trail link was established to connect the bridge with the existing trails within the woodlot. Visitors can now comfortably hike along the raised border of the stream even in wet conditions and view a segment of the woodlot that has been difficult to access in the past.
Some invasive species issues were addressed with the removal of sections of Garlic Mustard and Buckthorn. These woodlot concerns will require continued attention the future.
The bulk of the day's efforts were focussed on the standing dead Hickory trees resulting from the Hickory Bark Beetle invasion. Approximately 50-60 Bitternut Hickory casualties were felled — many towering 40 - 60 ft. This was a priority of the day as many posed a safety risk due to their proximity to the trails. Some of the wood was collected for firewood for the outdoor stove in the woodlot. Much of the remainder will be salvaged as firewood for local use.
As a mid-day break, all enjoyed a hardy lunch featuring sloppy joes.
It was a highly successful day with much being achieved. Most importantly, it was a safe day for all, in spite of the high risks associated with many of the tasks.
Our thanks to all who contributed. The Sawyer Preservation Woodlot is now a safer and more inviting place for all. Maintenance is an ongoing and never-ending task. The next work bee is being planned for the fall.
|
|
Sawyer Preservation Woodlot Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Woodlot located at Fullarton, Usborne boundary foresight of Otis Sawyer
Posted By Hilary Long
Wednesday September 30, 2009
Mitchell Advocate — In 1989, the late Otis Sawyer severed a 28.61-acre wooded parcel from his 150-acre family farm.
Today, 20 years later, the Sawyer Preservation Woodlot stands as a testament to Sawyer"s lifelong love of trees and nature.
On Sept. 27, a small ceremony was held to dedicate a stone monument to Otis and his wife Gladys Sawyer, in honour of the 20th anniversary of the Sawyer Preservation Woodlot.
And while it is clear Sawyer has had a great impact on the local community and the family and friends that continue to maintain and enjoy the woodlot, Sawyer may not have known just how great an ecological impact the Sawyer Preservation Woodlot has.
Dean Rob Gordon, of the Ontario Agriculture College of the University of Guelph, was at the ceremony to speak to association members and anyone else gathered about the importance of woodlots.
"Trees are the longest living organisms on earth and one of our greatest natural resources. They keep our air clean, improve our water quality, enhance bio-diversity, help prevent erosion, provide food and building materials, create shade, help to conserve water and make our landscape beautiful", said Gordon.
He added, "Over a 50-year period a single tree generates $35,000 worth of oxygen, $70,000 worth of air pollution control, $45,000 worth of recycled water and $35,000 worth of soil erosion reduction. Unfortunately these ecological good and services are taken for granted and only considered as externalities in relation to their true economic value", he said.
Gordon also spoke of the importance woodlots have in reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere. He said annually one hectare of trees sequester enough carbon dioxide to equal the amount produced by driving a car 100,000 kilometers.
In addition to carbon sequestration, climate modification and water and air management, Gordon said woodlots also provide significant food and habitats to countless bacteria, fungi, insects, birds and mammals, contributing to the overall bio-diversity of an area.
The Sawyer Preservation Woodlot is located just off Highway 23 south of Mitchell on Line 12 (the Usborne-Fullarton boundary). It was purchased by Otis Sawyer in 1923 as part of his 150-acre mixed-use farm. The woodlot was used as a pasture until the mid-1930's when his woodlot was chosen as a demonstration woodlot for Fullarton Township. During the 1960's, 70's and 80's, Sawyer cleared a network of trails through the woodlot, which are managed today by the Sawyer Preservation Woodlot Association, who have helped to maintain the Sawyer Woodlot since it was severed from the rest of Sawyer's land under his direction in 1989.
With the financial resources of a trust fund, and the guidance of an association of dedicated individuals, subsequent years have seen the site become a tribute to his legacy. The site is alive with flora and fauna and complete with labels naming trees, wildflowers and birds.
For more information on the Sawyer Preservation Woodlot visit www.sawyerwoodlot.org.
Article ID# 1775774
|
|
Students visit Sawyer Woodlot
Grade 4 students visit wooded area outside Russeldale
By Marc Hulet
Wednesday May 12, 2004
 |
APPRECIATING NATURE Grade 4 students from Upper Thames Elementary School
(UTES) visited the Sawyer Preservation Woodlot on May 6 as part of their habitats and communities science unit.
David Butson (left) and Lewis eagerly lead their class up the trail.
Marc Hulet Photo |
Mitchell Advocate — Grade 4 students from Upper
Thames Elementary School (UTES) took their unit on habitats and communities a step further on May 6 with a trip to the
Sawyer Preservation Woodlot located just off Highway 23 south of Mitchell on Line 12.
The students have been busy during this science unit.
Between March 30 and May 7 two students a day observed spring arriving at the Upper Thames school nature area, according
to teacher Laurel McIntosh. On April 14 the kids took a hike on the West Perth Trail to observe wetland habitat. During the trip
they observed four Canada geese nests and 15 Tundra Swans. On April 22 the kids again walked the trail to observe the
aquatic habitat and participated in the litter pick up on Earth Day.
During their time at the woodlot, McIntosh said the kids would be compiling information on different trees and they will also
be paying close attention to the tree as a microhabitat.
"A tree is a microhabitat within a forest or larger habitat," McIntosh explained. "The kids need to know what
animals might make a home in that particular tree."
Afterwards, the kids will write a poem and draw a picture of the tree and their work will be posted on the bulletin board in
Lions Park.
"They can show their families and the community what they learned in this unit," she said.
The site of the woodlot was purchased by Otis Sawyer in 1923 and it was turned into a preservation area in 1989.
The woodlot is now used to educate people, as well as serve as a habitat for wildlife and a recreation area, complete with
trails and a picnic area.
|
Click for additional photos
|
Sawyer Woodlot welcomes people, critters to enjoy wilderness
Tree labels part of tour
By Holly Jones
Wednesday July 16, 2003
 |
NOW THAT'S A TREE! Norm Jefferson (left), Harold Burgin and Walter MacDougald of the Sawyer
Preservation Woodlot Association pose with one of the larger trees on the Sawyer Woodlot. The 150-year-old sugar
maple died last year and will be left standing to become a den tree for small animals and birds.
Holly Jones Photo |
Mitchell Advocate — Thanks to a lifetime of efforts
by a Fullarton area native, local residents have access to a user-friendly woodlot, complete with labels naming trees and
wildflowers.
The Sawyer Woodlot, located just off Highway 23 south of Mitchell on Line 12 (the Usborne-Fullarton boundary) was purchased
by Otis Sawyer in 1923 as part of his 60-hectare (150-acre) mixed-use farm. The woodlot was used as a pasture until the mid-1930's
when his woodlot was chosen as a demonstration woodlot for Fullarton Township. During the 1960's, 70's and 80's, Sawyer
cleared a network of trails through the woodlot, which are managed today by the Sawyer Preservation Woodlot Association, who
have helped to maintain the Sawyer Woodlot since it was severed from the rest of Sawyer's land under his direction in 1989.
"There's not many woodlots with old (primary) growth, so its pretty wonderful," said Harold Burgin, a member of the
association, along with Walter MacDougald, Norm Jefferson, and roughly 70 other members.
Among the 21 varieties of trees represented on the woodlot are several large ash, beech, hard and soft maple and hickory.
In addition to primary forest, Sawyer and his children expanded the woodlot in the 1940's by planting seedlings on the adjacent pasture.
Sixty years later the replanted area melds almost seamlessly into the primary forest, distinguishable to the careful observer by
straight rows of tall trees, partially concealed by a healthy regrowth of forest underbrush, and a number of foreign species of trees.
Because little was known at the time about the importance of native species and there was not nearly the variety of species of
seedlings available on the market that there is today, the eleven-hectare (28.61-acre) woodlot is home to some interesting experiments,
displaying some of the more minor difficulties associated with introducing foreign species.
An example of this is a tall Scots Pine (commonly known as "Scotch Pine"). While this species is a highly valued natural
forest species and reforestation tree in Europe, it seems that the conditions in dense North American forests do not allow enough
light through to sustain this species of tree.
"He pruned it as high as he could reach to make it a forest tree," said Jefferson.
Jefferson and other association members fondly recall Sawyer's devotion to the woodlot almost right until his death in 1996 at the
age of 96.
"His love of life was this bush," said MacDougald.
They remember coming across Sawyer deep in the woodlot atop a ladder with a chain saw in his hands trimming trees when was
as old as 90.
"The feeling was that if he fell off the ladder and killed himself at least he'd be happy (to die among the trees)," said
MacDougald.
"The older trees, Otis almost worshiped," added Burgin, generating avid agreement from his colleagues from the
association, "certainly if he had been a logger he would have had them (older trees) logged out years ago."
The woodlot today is divided into two parts: the highlands and the lowlands. The 2.4 km upland loop permits year-round walking,
while the lower trail can be seasonally wet and impassible at times.
During the summer months wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, and a heavy peppering of mosquito repellent is highly advisable.
While the association maintains paths and manages the forest so that taller trees do not block sunlight from reaching smaller,
younger trees below, they are also careful to leave a lot of fallen tree limbs and standing trees alone to provide homes for smaller
animals and insects.
"Some people do think its negative because (they think) we haven't cleaned up (the underbrush)," said MacDougald,
pointing out a fallen tree brimming with healthy insect life, "but there's more bugs in that tree than any tree in the bush."
In fact, a hot topic at this year's spring meeting was whether to leave an over 150-year-old sugar maple standing after it died
suddenly this past year. Some thought that it should be harvested for its valuable wood, while others felt that it should be left as
a den tree, to be used as a home for animals.
"Our birders would be very pleased to see more den trees," said MacDougald.
Burgin estimates that the tree would have fetched from $1,000 to $2,000 at a wood mill. However, because the woodlot is already
funded by a trust fund set up at the time that the land was severed, the feeling was that the woodlot did not need any more money,
though it could always use more den trees.
Sawyer's lifetime of experimentation and learning about trees is continued these days through the various interests of members of
the association.
"(Sawyer) continued to learn all of his life," attests Burgin.
In addition to maintaining the paths, the association looks after a picnic area, and labels for each of the 21 main varieties of trees
to aid the novice and even the more experienced tree enthusiast along.
In recent years members of the association have also created inventories of the birds and wild flowers
that can be found in the woodlot.
A large identification chart depicting many of the different birds that frequent the woodlot is set up near the entrance and smaller
signs are set up along the paths indicating different varieties of wildflowers.
Through the association, Sawyer's curiosity and love of trees lives on. A couple of the trees have been fit with a dendrometer
to measure their rate of growth, and Burgin hopes to photograph the large dead sugar maple on a yearly basis to document its
decline.
The association's next project will be to invite outside experts in to study either soil or water.
"His (Sawyer's) love of life was this business," said Jefferson.
|
|
October 2, 2005
2005 Harvest Day Farm Hiker Tour A Success !
Click for photos |
Over 350 people ventured out on Sunday October 2 to kick off the beginning of Agriculture Week in Ontario. The 2005
Harvest Day Farm Hiker Tour was organized by the Perth and Huron County Federations of Agriculture, with the assistance
of the Perth Junior Farmers.
This years tour was held in the Huron/Perth "border" community of Kirkton. Seven sites were enjoyed this
year, and the Federations wish to thank the hosts for agreeing to participate, their efforts were very much appreciated
by the organizers and tour participants.
This years hosts were Woodvue Farms, where the Hern family showcased their Holstein dairy operation; the Rundle
family opened their beef operation for tours, and had information on egg production as they also have a layer facility; the
Thomson farmstead showed visitors the intricacies of shoeing a horse; the Sawyer Preservation Woodlot provided
the opportunity to learn about a farm woodlot; Quadro Communications took visitors on a time travel to see the development
of a rural telephone system; the Heritage Barn Museum showcased the early
farm family way of life; Pork Producers had on view a sow and her week old piglets; and OPRAH, Ontario's newest Farm
Animal Care Specialist, delighted young and old alike (OPRAH is a child-sized robotic doll who rides a remote control-operated
John Deere tractor). The day finished with a delicious pork BBQ hosted by the Kirkton Agricultural Society
Article courtesy of Huron County Federation of Agriculture
|
|
