Grassland stewardship

Over the past 40 years in southern Ontario, fire has been an important tool to keep grasslands free of shrubs and trees. We use fire to prepare and enhance grasslands on our land.  

We work with a professional contractor when a prescribed burn is necessary. This helps to prepare and enhance grasslands. A specialized contractor is hired to develop and carry out the prescribed burn plan. Burns take place in April when conditions are dry. Before the burn, we inform local emergency services, neighbours, municipal staff and media so that they know this has been planned.

We plant seeds soon after a prescribed burn, or on a field that has recently been planted with soy beans. Planting can be done using a seeding machine pulled behind a tractor, or by hand. 

Native wildflowers: wild bergamot, brown-eyed Susan, foxglove beardtongue, Virginia mountain mint, oxeye sunflower and green-head coneflower.

Native grasses: big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian prairie grass, switchgrass, Canada wild rye and Virginia wild rye.

With time, shrubs and trees will naturally start to grow in grassland areas. We monitor changes like this and mow the area when it is necessary. Mowing not only controls shrub and trees in the grassland, but also non-native grasses and wild flowers. A contractor or staff member carries out this work using appropriate equipment.

Monitoring tells us about the health of the habitat and helps us know when stewardship activities are necessary. Our staff monitor grassland habitat by using inventory grids that are one metre square. Each plant species within the grid is recorded.