Station Road Naturalization Site



 


 


 


 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Station Road Naturalization Site was built with the Wainfleet community in mind. This former landfill site has been transformed into a park-like escape where native plants and flowers are thriving. Off the beaten path in the rural community of Wainfleet, this short path meanders around a couple of ponds and offers a well-maintained gravel path and lookout points. This naturalization site is conveniently connected to Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area by a 6.75km portion of the all-purpose recreational Gord Harry Trail.

The Gord Harry Trail runs east-west across the Township of Wainfleet along the Lake Erie shoreline and connects to many other natural areas. This all-purpose recreation path is accessible year round and offers a great opportunity to walk or cycle through Wainfleet.

Originally a municipal landfill site from the 1950's to 2008, the Station Road Naturalization Site officially opened in late 2012. In order to naturalize this site, Niagara Region implemented a plan that would use the existing features of the surrounding landscape. By removing barriers to growth and reproduction and integrating the natural tree line and existing vegetation into the design of this naturalization site, the flora and fauna will be left to regenerate on their own. This is a unique way of naturalizing a site, it may take more time for the natural biodiversity to return without human interference but perhaps it is a more natural process. Naturalization typically focuses on three main aspects: what to restore, will it be similar to its native state and community involvement. The Station Road Naturalization Site focused on creating a park for the Wainfleet community and its visitors first and chose to let nature fill in the rest once the landfill had been successfully neutralized. The site is already a wonderful spot to immerse yourself in nature, and watching the evolution of the site over the years will be a proud feature of the Wainfleet community.

The short trail offered at Station Road Naturalization Site is perfect for people of all ages. Since the area is surrounded by woodland, birders will enjoy watching birds of prey from the center of the site on the lookout point. The two ponds are located close to the paths so that waterfowl and other species are easily admired without disturbing their natural habitat. At the highest point of the trail you can view the naturalizing landfill site which will, over time, become a wooded and grasslands area filled with local wildlife and flowers.

This site offers a natural escape from the bustle of Niagara's more obvious attractions and is conveniently located near other natural parks and close to the Lake Erie shoreline.


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