Huntsville, 2007

In 2007 the Natural Heritage Committee applied to Wal-Mart Evergreen for a grant to complete the restoration of another site, Camp Kitchen Park in Huntsville. This site is located along the Muskoka River at the mouth of Fairy Lake.

Members of the Natural Heritage Committee spent many hours planning and visiting the site before the actual project took place.  Several days before the planting, Northway Gardeners’ http://northwaygardeners.com/Rob Allen, horticulturalist and member of the Natural Heritage Committee, oversaw the removal of old concrete slabs and rocks and the removal of turf grass with the assistance of Town staff and heavy equipment operators. Approximately 30 volunteers over the course of a morning dug holes, planted native species and mulched the area.   Native species planted included sweet gale, meadow sweet, serviceberry, white cedar, white pine, red maple and northern wild raisin.  About 75 m of shoreline was restored this way. 

MHF’s Natural Heritage Committee in partnership with community members restored 135 square meters of shoreline, improved the aquatic habitat, and provided an example as a demonstration with a view to encourage other projects in municipal and business properties of Muskoka.