Muskoka Heritage Foundation
Natural Heritage Stewardship 2008 Award Recipients

Bark & Ecological Gardens
Baysville, Township of Lake of Bays

Since 2002, Rebecca Krawczyk and Peter Buwalda have acquired 168 acre of creeks, forests, and wetlands in Lake of Bays Township near Baysville.  Small areas of the forest have been opened up to produce the dappled shade necessary for propagating the native woodland plants that are the focus of their nursery business; otherwise, the forests on the property remain intact.  A network of trails connect different parts of their property and school groups now visit for outdoor education.  Their plan is to open a demonstration garden in order to showcase and distribute native species.  Their primary interest is in native species, heirlooms and plant diversity.

Rebecca is a commercial organic gardener and environmental horticulture consultant.  Peter documents native plants in detailed works of art and puts Rebecca’s designs into action.  Together they have helped implement many shoreline restorations such as Norway Point Park, South Portage Dock and the Lake of Bays Sailing Club.  Many extra volunteer hours go into these community restorations.  They hope to be successful, step lightly and educate.

Clearwater Lake
Town of Gravenhurst

This is a small waterfront property owned by Harold and Ann Schmidt on Clearwater Lake in the Town of Gravenhurst.  This well-treed lot is on a small lake and the process of naturalizing the shoreline with native shrubs and plants has begun.  To one side of the house, there is a narrow path that cuts through a 20 foot wide wetland that runs between this property and a neighbour's.  Wetland plants dominate the shoreline and the shallows in front of the shoreline.  The owners have noticed that this area is well liked by painted turtles that like to sun themselves on log slabs placed there for their use.  A few years ago, dozens of bird houses were built by Terry Whittam and placed around the lake.  Many species of wildlife now use them for homes and shelter.  Since then Harold has constructed more houses for squirrels and birds.   

The Farmhouse
Hillman Lake
Township of Muskoka Lakes

This 72-acre property owned by Jackie Hilton and Wendy Fletcher has frontage on Hillman Lake in the Township of Muskoka Lakes.  The property includes a farmhouse (the oldest part dating back to c1893) which sits back from the lake.  Huge old rhubarb plants, raspberry canes and the odd foundation stone from the original barn are reminders of the property's long history.  Most of the property is forested and includes an area of new growth forest and evidence of recovery from land clearance for cattle grazing that occurred from the 1880s until 1950.  Beaver meadows, wetlands and spring fed streams abound, and can be enjoyed from the series of well used trails that allow owners and visitors alike to explore the property.  With the exception of a small pipe dock and a storage rack for canoes and kayaks set well back from the shoreline, the waterfront is entirely natural.  Viewed from any vantage point it is in stark contrast to the grassy frontages that almost all the other properties have at the water's edge of Hillman Lake.

Limberlost Forest & Wildlife Reserve
Township of Lake of Bays

This large property, in excess of 10,000 acres, is owned by six families who have pooled their holdings to effectively manage the forest under three coordinated managed forest plans which are designed to mesh together.  Some tree planting has already taken place with more to come.  The next stage of the plans call for thinning some of the forest in order to improve the quality of trees after areas of high-grading over the last 50 years. The lakes in this area form the headwaters of three different waterways; hence water quality is pristine.

Members of the Cockwell and Horton families are primarily responsible for rebuilding more than seventy-five kilometres of high quality hiking trails, originally created by the old Limberlost Lodge, and are busy restoring more.  Snowmobiles and ATVs are not allowed on the property.  People power is welcomed.  There are no fees for day use of the trails, but users are invited to donate to Trails Youth Initiatives, an inner-city youth organization which uses the Long Lake Cabin as its northern campus.

The history of the property is also being preserved.  Several cabins have been rebuilt, including two old trapper cabins which are now used by day trippers for shelter during the winter months. Artifacts found nearby are on display in the cabins.  Several books have been written, including a Master Trail Guide, a book on how to build wilderness trails, and books on the history and birds of Limberlost.

The Limberlost Resort, now without its large lodge, still operates.  Smaller lodges and cabins may be rented by the week or weekend.  It is open year round, as are the trails.  The beach where the lodge used to be is believed to be the longest natural sand beach in the Muskoka region and is the only place you will find a groomed shoreline or, for that matter, grass.  Small openings along the shoreline allow for docks but other than that, there is little shoreline disturbance.

Limberlost is an excellent example of how a forest can be managed in a sustainable and environmentally safe way that respects nature, while also being available for recreational purposes. Dr. Peter Schleifenbaum, of Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve, is an adviser to Limberlost, and, while there are many similarities, Limberlost  is in many respects very different.