Study area provides place to learn about nature
Study area provides place to enjoy and learn about nature along Lake Huron's southeast shore
The Pine River Watershed is one of the priority areas along Lake Huron's southeast shore, in the Healthy Lake Huron Partnership's area, stretching from Sarnia to Tobermory.
The McLarty Environmental Study Area is located in the Pine River Watershed and it is open to the public to enjoy the great outdoors.
McLarty Environmental Study Area is located on Bruce Road 6/Side Road 20 in the Township of Huron-Kinloss.
This area is designed for the watershed community to learn about the Pine River; wetland creation; and the local wildlife and plants that this area supports.
The Pine River Watershed Initiative Network (PRWIN) has installed a trail system throughout the area, created two wetland ponds, planted memorial trees, an Osprey nest and planted more than one thousand tree seedlings.
The Network would like to give a special 'Thank you!' to Community Foundation Grey Bruce for supporting the PRWIN initiative Green Elements – Friends of the McLarty Centre. The funding supports new picnic tables to aid in the Network's program to educate about the Pine River Watershed with community groups and volunteers at the McLarty Centre.
The Pine River Watershed's McLarty Environmental Area has provided an enriching area for PRWIN's Horticultural Youth Group to meet each year.
The 30 children in the group, ages 6-14, look forward, each year, to the meetings held at the centre, according to Heather Newman, Leader of the Ripley and District Horticultural Society For Our Youth Club. They have had the opportunity to see and learn about our native species of flora and fauna. Hiking on the trail to identify plant and bird species and observing frogs are some of their favourite activities.
"As a leader of the youth group I really appreciate that we have access to such a wonderful area so close to home for our children to learn and explore," Heather said. "The Pine River Watershed has been an excellent support for the environmental and horticultural teaching that we do and we greatly appreciate that."
To learn more, visit the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network website or email PRWIN at pineriverwin@yahoo.ca