RESTORE COOTES

Princess Point, sunset, November 10, 2009, with a wall of traffic noise from highway 403 behind the lens.

Remains of the former Longwood Road between Cootes Paradise and Snake Road, now located in the Royal Botanical Gardens' Hendry Valley. Nature eats away at the asphalt, slowly reclaiming the forest floor. Roads can be reclaimed, and natural areas expanded, and here is a little bit of proof.

Everyone can see the irony in sprawling suburbs named after the thing they replaced: "Meadowlands," "Headon Forest," and such, but the green thumbs at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington/Hamilton are doing their part to bring some ideas about nature back to the suburbs with their " No Mow, No Blow, No H20 " display at the Laking Garden. There is no doubt that the climate changing Carbon Dioxide-saturated atmosphere is being fuelled by human activities, and yes, your gardening practices have something to do with contributing to the problem. So as a healing step in the right direction, check out these alternatives to monoculture lawns with an eye on aesthetics and the climate we all share.

Dundas fight moves to OMB TheSpec.com - Local - Dundas fight moves to OMB Developer appeals move to block warehouse near canal Eric McGuinness , The Hamilton Spectator , DUNDAS (Aug 25, 2009) Environmentalist Julia Kollek says the citizens' group Protect Our Dundas and several individuals will join Hamilton city council in fighting off an Ontario Municipal Board appeal aimed at winning approval for a self-storage warehouse almost beside the Desjardins Canal. First Dundas Leasing Ltd., owned by J. Douglas Hammond of Ancaster, is appealing council's rejection of a rezoning application. Hammond is the former owner of the nearby Canadian Tire store. Opponents say the two-hectare property on the northwest corner of King and...

A good move for conservation and restoration of the natural habitat: well done! Bid to save Crooks Hollow dam fails TheSpec.com - Local - Bid to save Crooks Hollow dam fails Deteriorating dam to be demolished Eric McGuinness , The Hamilton Spectator GREENSVILLE (Aug 24, 2009) The scenic Crooks Hollow Reservoir will be drained this fall when the 96-year-old dam that forms it is demolished. A spirited grassroots effort to save the deteriorating concrete structure on top 0f the Niagara Escarpment near Highway 8 and Brock Road in Flamborough, failed to raise money for repairs, so Hamilton Conservation Authority board members voted recently to proceed with demolition. The decision leaves area resident Renate Intini bitter and disillus...

Barry Gray, the Hamilton Spectator Photo Courtesy of Environment Canada Turtles well looked after here TheSpec.com - Local - Turtles well looked after here Group forms to help critters get across the road at Cootes Drive ...

Our turtle love has come out of its shell TheSpec.com - Local - Our turtle love has come out of its shell Eric McGuinness , The Hamilton Spectator , (Jun 25, 2009) Hamilton is turning on to turtles. Dozens of newly recruited Dundas Turtle Watch volunteers have started patrolling Cootes Drive each morning and evening to protect and rescue female turtles crossing to lay eggs. The busy, four-lane road even sports turtle crossing signs provided by the Toronto Zoo. At the other end of the city, Stoney Creek's Community Beach Turtle Ponds Association is savouring victory in its fight to protect turtle habitat from residential development. Ontario Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield will visit the Royal Botanical Gardens today to announce funding for species-at-risk work that includes rad...