Neighbourhood LORNE PARK Issue 05 2021

JACK DARLING MEMORIAL PARK CONTROLLED BURN

By Susan Gibbins ■ Photography by Peeter Poldre and City of Mississauga

Jack Darling Memorial Park is home to one of Ontario’s few remaining tallgrass prairies.

The prairie is home to many pollinators such as bees and butterflies that depend on plants that can only be found in tallgrass prairies as well as many rare species such a Big Bluestem grass and Indian grass. Tallgrass prairies need periodic fire to regenerate and get rid of invasive woody plants. Controlled burns are a way to maintain the health of this rare ecosystem while also helping to encourage the return of rare species of birds and insects that depend on tallgrass prairies. The controlled burn took place on the 19th of April. Photos were taken before, during and after the burn.

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