A local couple is celebrating an achievement for their conservation efforts after having to hold off because of the pandemic.
Long-time Sydenham Field Naturalist (SFN) members Gerald and Glenda Young were the recipients of the 2021 Friends of Nature Award.
The couple did receive their award last year but have not been able to celebrate until recently.
"2021 was a difficult year for our club to run our programs," said SFN Communication Chair Sherri-Anne Wills. "However, trying to keep some sense of normality we selected a deserving couple who had completed a 14-acre land retirement as the 2021 recipients."
In 2017, the Youngs excavated two ponds in order to create 3-acres of new wetlands. According to Wills, both ponds received surface flow and subsurface flow from the farmed fields to the east.
"The water is held in these ponds and is eventually discharged into Clay Creek," said Wills. "We know that these ponds decant the flowing water to reduce sediment and nutrients into Clay Creek."
Native grasses were also planted as a ground cover and later on trees that are native to the area.
"Several acres of the grasses were over-seeded with a variety of flowering forbs to establish a tall-grass prairie along the east side of the field next to the re-forested section," said Wills.
Last month, the Youngs hosted a tour which allowed SFN members to see how the area is starting to evolve into a "valuable habitat" area.
Wills said the event also gave the club the opportunity to recognize the Youngs for their 2021 Friends of Nature award.
