In this month’s newsletter:
- Pollinator Appreciation Day
- Jane’s Walk at the Pinhey Sand Dunes Inspires and Educates Community
Biodiversity Conservancy International will be at Pollinator Appreciation Day, held at Fletcher Wildlife Garden, to teach visitors about the dunes. Join us to learn more about pollinators, and about creating pollinator-friendly habitat at home and in your community.
Learn more about this event at the Wild Pollinator Partners’ 2025 Pollinator Appreciation Day page.
Jane’s Walk at the Pinhey Sand Dunes Inspires and Educates Community
By Diana Todd
On Sunday May 4th, 2025, nearly 70 community members gathered for a Jane’s Walk at the Pinhey Sand Dunes. The tour started at site 2 where Dr. P.T. Dang, the project lead, shared the fascinating geological history of the rare inland sand dunes. He described that the landscape was once covered by an ice sheet 2km thick and when the ice melted about 25 000 years ago, the Champlain Sea covered the area until 8000 years ago when it left behind the sandy dunes. Over time, 99.9% of the sand dune system was destroyed and overgrown by pine trees planted in the 1950s. Attendees were shocked to learn that there had been such a loss of habitat but inspired to hear of the hard work happening to restore the dunes since restoration efforts began in 2013 supported by the National Capital Commission (NCC). Today, 4 active restoration sites span the area off Slack Road in Nepean – a fitting name as “slack” refers to the passage between 2 dunes. With the help of more than 1000 volunteers annually, the project has made impressive strides.
Long-term volunteer and entomologist, Dr. Henri Goulet explained that the current Pinhey Sand Dune complex is less than 1% of its original size, but for tiny insects, every inch matters. The sand, reaching temperatures as high as 72 degrees Celsius, supports species uniquely adapted for this extreme heat. The threatened Ghost Tiger Beetle has long legs that stilt its body above the ground. To address concerns of genetic drift within their isolated and threatened population, researchers were able to successfully introduce specimens from other dunes within Ontario, improving genetics. Many other unique species can be found at the dunes including well camouflaged spiders and robber flies that can grow up to 2 inches long! The biodiverse ecosystem is an excellent outdoor classroom, hosting over 1000 students each year.
Dr. Goulet then led the group to site 1 where attendees were blown away to learn that the beautiful sandy hills had been restored using only a kitchen sieve! Luckily, Dr. Dang developed a more efficient sand sifting method for the following 3 sites. One attendee, curious about the presence of plants on the restored dunes, asked why vegetation was being introduced after so much effort to expose the sand. Dr. Goulet explained that carefully spaced native plants, such as blueberry bushes, increase biodiversity and support pollinators without causing overgrowth. Another attendee asked why there was no vegetation planted at the dune tops, to which Dr. Goulet replied that the dune tops remain bare due to the intense sun and lack of shade, which makes it unsuitable for most vegetation. The unique landscape has however seen some rare plant species growing successfully. The group also discussed some of the site’s challenges. A powerful derecho event in 2022 left behind significant damage from fallen trees and debris. While the NCC has assisted with clearing the area, ongoing efforts are needed to fully recover.
The group walked next to site 3 where the sand was littered with pine needles and invaded with weeds. Dr. Goulet described the site as difficult and expressed uncertainty about the direction it may take. Blackberry bushes with spiky stems have been challenging for volunteers to remove. There have been attempts to tarp large patches of the plant, but it persists on the outskirts of the dunes and re-invades. Regardless, attendees were pleased to observe a beautiful insect identified by Dr. Goulet as a box elder bug. He encouraged attendees to visit again in mid July to see leaf beetles that sport amazing colours.
The tour concluded at site 4, located in the Hydro Ottawa corridor. Here, trees were cleared to accommodate power lines, presenting a great opportunity for dune restoration. The Pinhey Sand Dune researchers collaborated with Hydro Ottawa to restore the site. Despite challenges posed by invasive black locust trees, the area is doing well.
Overall, the “Jane’s Walk” offered a powerful reminder of the resilience of nature and the impact that community efforts can have in protecting and restoring it.