Canada South Land Trust member Tom Ayles had indicated that he would be willing to undertake the ground photography necessary for the Balkwill property baseline report. In preparation for this project, Tom familiarized himself with the Land Trust's digital camera and tripod.
In order to understand the photography work to be undertaken, Ontario Land Trust Alliance's A Volunteer's Manual for Land Management was consulted. The Manual states that "ground photographs can be used for evidence of violation of the conservation easement agreement as well as indicating points of interest on a property. The particulars of the easement agreement should also be photographed. For example, most easement agreements prohibit building on the site so all existing built structures such as barns, sheds, roads and wells should be documented with photographs. Those features which contribute to the significance of the property and the easement's boundaries should be documented with photographs as well. Lastly, make sure that all vulnerable features, such as the edge of a woodlot, are photographed."
The Manual goes on to state that "A critical section of the Baseline Report is the photographs and their reference points. These photos should reflect the significant habitat types or features that are being protected through the easement. A description of what each photo represents should also be provided. It is this information that the individuals monitoring your conservation easements will use as reference points to determine whether violations have occurred."
A photo point map was developed with points to be photographed and the direction from which each photograph would be taken. On August 16, 2005, Tom and Cathy Ayles, Bill and Jack Balkwill and Betty Learmouth met at 8:00 a.m. for a two hour photography session within the residential area, recording the various buildings in this area. Cathy Ayles provided the azimuth readings for each photograph while Betty and Bill took measurements from known points to the camera. Due to the summer heat, the work wrapped up at 10:00 a.m.
The group met again at 8:00 a.m. the following morning to photograph the property boundaries along the concession road. The Old Logging Road with its mature Sugar Maples was next to be photographed with eight photographs taken to record the condition of the moss covered lane which is restricted to foot traffic.
On August 21, 2005, the area around the Pond and Prairie Grass restoration site was photographed. Then the group moved into the woodland, recording the condition of the twelve lanes and adjacent woodland. Landowners Bill and Jack Balkwill shared their extensive knowledge of their woodland, their comments recorded for the Baseline Report. Directors Marie Deneau and Patricia Rhoads and Patricia's son Adam joined the group for a first hand look at the ground photography process.
The group gathered again on August 22, 2005, to photograph Lanes 1 through 4. Highlights were a Black Oak, the only such species in the entire woodland, several American Beech, a glimpse of an old bush trail and its ruts still visible after thirty years, Shumard Oaks, a single Pignut Hickory, and a mature Shagbark Hickory estimated to be 150 to 200 years old.
Lanes 5 through 7 were photographed on August 23, 2005. Lane 5 is the extension of the Old Logging Road. In a particularly wet section Black Ash may be found at Lane 5's edge. These lanes have good numbers of sedges including Carex radiata which resembles a lawn where it grows in profusion. Shumard Oaks with their buttressed roots are found along these lanes in the wet areas. Monkeyflower was found in the past on Lane 5 but appears to have disappeared. Lane 7 is noted for its older Shagbark and Shellbark Hickories. Two specimens of the only Spicebush in the woodland are found here.
Photography work resumed on August 26, 2005 with Lane 8 documented by Tom Ayles. Landowner Bill Balkwill told us that this section had been open in the past with goldenrod and Prickly Ash found but these plants have disappeared as trees have shaded the area. A magnificent mature Burr Oak is a highlight along the southern portion of Lane 8.
On August 28, 2005, the group directed its efforts to the woodland's northwest portion where an extension of Lane 1 allows access to Lanes 10 and 11. We were delighted to find Cardinal Flower in bloom in a natural swale. Jack Balkwill told us this plant species was found in large numbers in the past. Bill Balkwill pointed out Turtlehead which had had its blossoms nipped by the local deer population.
Walking east along Lane 10, the group enjoyed the beauty of the surrounding woodland as the early morning sunlight streamed through the trees. The elevation drops along this trail, resulting in wet areas that encourage the growth of Shumard Oaks. These woods are well away from the woodland boundaries, providing habitat for interior nesting bird species. Southern Flying Squirrels are known from this area.
Next morning, August 29, 2005, the group met to walk and record Lane 12, in the wing of the woodland. Here Lane 12 curves around below the northern boundary of the Balkwill property. Of interest was a huge tree that likely had collapsed in the 1800s. Jack Balkwill called the remains of this tree a "cradle knoll" as the mound of roots support a Red Oak and several viburnum species. A shallow, leaf filled depression or "pit" behind the mound of roots is a vernal pool, a home for chorus frogs in early spring. Jack told us the water is actually warm as the chorus frogs sing in March.
Photographer Tom Ayles worked at recording the boundaries in this area including a large municipal drain and the edges of agricultural land abutting the woodland. All the usual work of recording azimuth was undertaken by Cathy Ayles while Bill Balkwill and Betty Learmouth worked at measurements from a known point to the camera.
September 1, 2005 was the final day of ground photograph along Lane 11. The group had an opportunity to view the northern boundary at an old wire fence as well as recording the conditions of the woodland near the iron posts as indicated on the plan of survey.
The northwest portion of the Balkwill is most interesting as here may be seen an original tributary of Cedar Creek. We are so accustomed to man-made drainage ditches in Essex County that the slightly depressed surface of the old creek bed is a complete surprise. Of course, on our visit the creek bed was absolutely dry after several months of summer drought, unlike the situation during late April 2004 when water flowed through the area in a northwest direction. Landowner Jack Balkwill told us he could remember flood situations when four feet of water flowed in the old creek bed.
Landowner Bill Balkwill entertained the group with a story from one hundred years old of two children who had been instructed to look after a fire under an old iron potash kettle as maple sap boiled. They were distracted by the thought of spawning pike in the nearby creek, abandoning their chore of watching the fire. During their absence, the fire moved into the nearby woodland. Later, upon our return to the residential area, Bill and Jack showed us the old potash kettle which is now lying upside down by the hay barn.
The group was intrigued to learn that native mussels had been present in the original creek bed. Bill and Jack both remember these small mussels, the size of a man's thumb nail.
In this northwest corner of the woodland is found some metal debris, one piece being an old metal drinking trough. Jack told us of the time when the trough was in use for cattle, Jack observed a red fox drinking from the trough.
Many thanks to Tom and Cathy for their hours of work to obtain the necessary photographs for the Baseline Report. We are most appreciative to landowners Bill and Jack who guided the photographers through the woodland and provided so many insights as to tree identification and understanding of their woodland.