Eight partners involved in the development of the Lambton County Factsheet – Caring for Nature in Lambton – celebrated the launch of the brochure at Walnut Acres Farms owned by Dave and Gabrielle Ferguson.
Fifteen people representing Lambton County, St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, Lambton Federation of Agriculture, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Lambton Woodlot Owners Association, the Rural Lambton Stewardship Network, Lambton Wildlife, and Carolinian Canada Coalition came together to talk about the work that went into compiling the Factsheet and the habitat conservation and stewardship projects that are going on all around the County.
Nikki May, Project Coordinator for Carolinian Canada Coalition talked about the Factsheet project and how it focuses the Big Picture Project on each County individually. “It enables Carolinian Canada Coalition to build closer relationships with local representatives of our regional partners such as St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, the County of Lambton, the Lambton Federation of Agriculture, and the Rural Lambton Stewardship Network.” says Nikki.
Dave Posliff, Director of Planning for Lambton County discussed the value of the partnership on this project to the County. “We provided some of the mapping data, and information about our County projects such as the 580 acre Lambton County Forest” said Dave, “but in return, we learned a great deal about the stewardship work going on in the County and forged closer relationships with the conservation community”.
Dave Ferguson of Walnut Acres Farms described the stewardship work that he and his family have carried out over the years on the family farm, including sustainably harvesting their woodlots for decades, and the planting of prairie species on marginal farmland.
Ron Ludolph, Stewardship Coordinator for the Rural Lambton Stewardship Network (RLSN) expanded on the projects that the Stewardship Network had partnered on with Dave and talked about a variety of other stewardship projects that RLSN has donew around the county in partnership with private and public landowners.
Deb Coke, President of the Lambton Federation of Agriculture spoke about the importance of publicizing the habitat stewardship work that leading farmers like the Fergusons do. She mentioned that there are many farmers in Lambton who are conserving habitat, but that more is needed if the landscape is to stay healthy. “I come from a state that is 87% forested and I remember how much we valued our trees” reminisced Deb.
All the partners were extremely pleased with the Lambton Factsheet, and expressed their appreciation to Carolinian Canada Coalition for providing them with this tool to help with their communications work. A link to the Factsheet will be posted on the Lambton Federation of Agriculture website, the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority website, the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority website, as well as 17,000 copies being widely distributed to farmers, rural landowners and other residents in the County.
Members of the press who attended the event included Barry Wright of CBC Windsor and Sarnia This Week, Dan McCaffery of the Sarnia Observer, and Mary Baxter of Voice of the Farmer.
Dave Ferguson of Walnut Acres Farms talks about the stewardship work on his farm. Janet Bremner and Malcolm Boyd look on while Mary Baxter takes notes for Voice of the Farmer. Ron Ludolph, Deb Coke and Dennis Bryson listen while Dave Ferguson describes stewardship work.
