​Huron Bruce Nature celebrates 40th anniversary and unveils new logo

Huron Bruce Nature, formerly the Huron Fringe Field Naturalists, marked the club’s 40th anniversary with a celebration, Saturday afternoon, at the Point Clark Community Centre.

Following a potluck lunch, president Christine Roberts welcomed everyone and introduced the guest speaker, Marcus Maddalena, of Goderich, representing the Ontario Nature Reserves System.

Maddalena said Ontario Nature oversees 26 nature reserves and three conservation easements, totalling 3,183 hectares (7,865 acres) of land. All are stewarded by local groups, including Huron Bruce Nature which is the steward of the George G. Newton Reserve, south of Goderich.

“We are working to expand the nature reserves into Eastern Ontario and down through Lambton County and Chatham-Kent,” he said.

The stewards of these properties belong to a Nature Network which includes naturalist and nature clubs, and friends of provincial parks, who advocate for the protection of nature.

“They draw attention to the issues, with local government, which can then lead to pressuring the provincial and federal governments,” said Maddalena.

He gave as an example, the Sydenham River Restoration project near Chatham. This 60-acre property is being transformed into a woodland, complete with native grasses that act as a natural forest bed.

“It’s a great success story,” said Maddalena. “Over five years, we’ve planted 40,000 native trees and 300 shrubs. We have wildflowers and ponds, and six-foot grasses. You should visit this project. We’ve increased the native species and decreased the non-native species which is what we want to see.”

He said the property is closed to the public right now because there is no proper access to it, and Ontario Nature is trying to turn it into a Carolinian forest (mostly deciduous trees) to provide a good bird habitat.

Maddalena said another area of concern for Ontario Nature is local wetlands conservation.

“Southern Ontario has lost over 70 per cent of its wetlands,” he said, “and there’s a lot of pressure here on coastal wetlands.”

The main causes for loss of wetlands are development and land conversion, climate change, invasive species, pollution, and drainage and altered hydrology, he said.

He noted that Guelph is a leader in preserving wetlands, and that communities around Kingston and Stittsville have pushed for conservation, rejecting development projects.

Looking ahead, Maddalena said Ontario Nature works with local groups to give them more visibility and to achieve change.

“What you do here is important,” he said. “Congratulations on your 40th anniversary.”

Roberts then introduced Steve and Jeni Pepper, original members of the club when it was established in 1985 by founder Joe Burgess.

“We have always loved nature and enjoyed sharing it with others,” said Steve. “Our first meeting was attended by 45 people. Joe was our first president and organized many outings.”

Steve then regaled the crowd with several funny stories about adventures the club shared throughout the years.

One was about checking your gear. The club went on a hike in the Hullett Conservation Area in the 1990s, and the leader reminded all the members to make sure they had everything they needed. It was hot and humid and they had hiked about two hours in the woodland when they stopped for lunch.

They could see their vehicles on the far side of the lake in the parking area. So, they hiked around the lake and when they got their lunches out, the leader opened his cooler and there was no lunch – it was still in the fridge at home!

“Thanks to everybody for being here to celebrate our club’s 40th anniversary,” said Steve.

Roberts presented a plaque to the Peppers, which will be placed on a bench in the George G. Newton Reserve, marking it as installed by Huron Bruce Nature in honour of Jeni and Steve Pepper’s unfailing and extraordinary 40-year support, 1985-2025.

Roberts pointed to the new Huron Bruce Nature logo featured on the anniversary cake. It shows a sunset, Lake Huron, and protected land. The cat-tails and the one side of the sunset create an “H” for Huron, while the bird and the sunset create a “B” for Bruce, and the logo is earthy colours of green and brown.

The Peppers cut the cake and everyone enjoyed a social time.



The new Huron Bruce Nature logo is featured on the 40th anniversary cake