Capt. Cornelius forest receiving some needed TLC from the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club

Volunteers from the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club are helping to care for the forest at Captain Cornelius Park by weeding out invasive buckthorn shrubs.

Over the last three years HNC has worked with students from Westmount High School and Westview Elementary School to weed the invasive buckthorn and to then plant native species but COVID-19 restrictions prevented this. Fortunately, enthusiastic HNC volunteers are happy to pitch in for 2020.

Captain Cornelius Park is located in the Rolston neighbourhood. Within the park lies a 6 acre forest that provides important habitat for many birds and is loud with bird song particularly during the spring migration. It also provides an important natural area for people to explore the interesting trees and
wildflowers as well as the interesting limestone rock outcroppings.

Unfortunately there is a lot of buckthorn which is an invasive shrub that takes over an area once it becomes established. Approximately 40% of the shrubs in this forest are buckthorn. This is why wildflowers and other types of trees and shrubs are not able to grow in parts of the forest. By removing this weedy shrub HNC volunteers are creating a large space where native trees and shrubs can be planted. We will be planting in 2021 and this will improve the habitat for the birds and other species that depend on this special urban woodland.

If you have any questions about the work that is happening to remove the buckthorn, please contact Jen from the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club at land@hamiltonnature.org.