The following description of natural heritage on the Balkwill Lands is part of the Balkwill Lands Baseline Documentation Report (BDR) which documents the Lands in words and photographs.
The Balkwill Lands occupy a total area of 147.938 acres (56.65 hectares) on gently rolling lands in the southern portion of Essex County, Ontario. Natural Area includes a 45.645 Woodland, a 0.950 acre Old Logging Road and a 2.130 acre Pond and Prairie Grass restoration site for a total of 48.725 acres. The Agricultural Area with a total area of 91.261 acres buffer the Natural Areas from roads and development and may be continued as productive farmlands.
A Grass Lane and Gravel Lane provide access to the Lands and total 1.105 acres. The Building Area con- sists of 6.847 acres. All the existing buildings are located on the Building Area. These Parts of the Balkwill Lands are not part of the Natural Area.
The Balkwill Woodland is comprised of five wet areas surrounded by drier upland areas. Tree species in the wet portions are those that prefer damper conditions while the uplands portion are representative of species that prefer drier conditions.
Trees in the Woodland are growing without interference to one and other. No naturally fallen trees are found on the woodland floor. Tree species range in age from five to ten years to one hundred and fifty year old Burr and Red Oaks, to two hundred year old hickories. A few piles of woody debris left from thinning are scattered throughout the Woodland Area. Diseased ash and elm species have been removed and burned during 2005 and 2006. Some cut tree trunks remain stacked about the Woodland. Access to the Woodland Area is by a series of twelve lanes.
A total of 294 vascular plant species have been documented for the Balkwill Woodland, Pond restoration site and the Old Logging Road . The invasive plant species Garlic Mustard has been noted near the Thorpe Drain in the northeast angle of the wing of the Woodland and it also exists on the Gary Fleming Lands northwest of the Balkwill Lands.
The Pond restoration occurred during Fall 2001 in the northwest angle of the Agricultural Area located to the west of the Gravel Drive. A low spot in the field was chosen with the contractor using a bulldozer to make a bowl shaped hollow no more that three and a half deep at its deepest point with a gentle slop to the edge. The pond is fed by two shallow field drains, and has an overflow to keep water from backing into the field.
Plants recorded for the Pond include Spike Rush which carpets the bank and shallows. Water Plantain, Soft Stem Rush, False Loosestrife, a type of watercress and Ditch-stonecrop (Penthorum sedoides) grow along the edge of the pond and a pondweed grows in deeper water.
The small circular Pond has attracted duck species such as nesting Wood Ducks and other bird species including hawks and herons. Amphibians such as toads and frogs have laid their eggs in the pond which in turn results in many tadpoles. Dragonflies and damselflies are attracted to the site. Deer, squirrels and other animals use the pond as a water source.
The Pond retained water through the long drought of 2005. During December 2005 deer drank from the pond where they had broken through the ice covered the pond. The pond was noted as full of water on December 16, 2006 and on April 29, 2007.
Preparation for Prairie restoration occurred during Fall 2001 with planting of tallgrass prairie plant species occurring during Spring 2002. This site has flourished with a colourful display of blooming prairie plants among the prairie grasses.
An Old Logging Road is located between the Building Area and the Woodland. Lined with mature Sugar Maples, the Old Logging Road is a reminder of an earlier time when two local mills processed logs from surround- ing woodlands. The Old Logging Road is restricted to persons on foot as the surface of the laneway is moss cov- ered. An adjacent Grass Lane is available to farm vehicular traffic.
The Balkwill Lands Natural Area and Agricultural Area are being protected for the following reasons:
The Balkwill Lands Woodland is part of the 124 acre Balkwill Woods Environmentally Significant Area as designated March 14, 1994 by Essex Region Conservation Authority.
Binational Conservation Blueprint for the Great Lakes. Within Ontario, Cedar Creek (Site 121), is desig- nated a priority site due to its diversity. Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2005.
The Ecological Sensitivity Criteria as qualified by Environment Canada include: