WALSINGHAM - Signs prohibiting motorized vehicles aren’t working. As a result, the Nature Conservancy of Canada has begun to fence some of its extensive holdings in Norfolk. In recent weeks, cedar posts and steel gates have been installed in the area of woodlots and brushland owned by the conservation group. Page fencing of the kind seen around pasture land will follow. NCC owns and manages 5,000 acres of wild land in Norfolk. Much of this is earmarked for rehabilitation. Unfortunately, much of this land is also popular with dirt bikers and ATV riders who disregard no-trespassing signs. “It’s for areas that are being accessed by motorized vehicles or have the potential to be,” says Wendy Cridland, NCC’s program manager in southwestern Ontario. “We’re gating a lot of the original laneways and access points. But we will have pedestrian walk-arounds at all access points.” NCC’s long-term priority in Norfolk is restoring the oak savannah and prairie grass landscape that defined the county before European settlement. This involves the planting and nurturing of nearly 80 species of native grasses, flowers and trees. NCC also wants to protect species-at-risk. NCC has determined that indiscriminate riding on its property is incompatible with these objectives. NCC also wants to protect sensitive habitat. This includes sand hills and dunes of the kind commonly found in west Norfolk. “Motorized vehicles often like to tear up sand hills, so we want to keep them out of these areas as well,” Cridland said. An example of the fencing to come can be seen on the south side of Highway 24 near the intersection with the Walsingham East Quarter Line. A long line of cedar posts and a steel gate have been installed along the perimeter of NCC property in this area. Wire fencing about four feet high will follow. Similar fencing will go up on NCC property where needed. The establishment of perimeters will continue into 2013. Monte Sonnenberg 519-426-3528 ext. 150 monte.sonnenberg@sunmedia.ca
I have heard rumours that NCC is offering to "manage" the SWCL as well. I will bet big bucks that St Williams will be fenced off sooner than later.
how on earth will that fence keep in all the hog-nosed skinks????...those critters are sure sneaky...they pop up everywhere there is a dirtbike!
I've been suspicious that they've been causing the dirtbikerus victimus environazius to become an endangered species......
Maybe they could develop a trail system in some near by lands to discourage folks from going in the conservation lands. Probably cost the same as the fences. Haven't been here but it's always sad to hear of places closing.
the NCC has had a grand plan for that area for a very long time. We foresaw this behavior years ago. NCC is extremely well funded, by the average Canadian, that doesn't quite understand the "naziesque" behaviour and mentality of the NCC.
Ah, the good old days when you could ride from your cottage and up the side of Turkey Point hill to St. Williams and not hurt anything or see anyone all day, eh Smitty ?
=D> As I've said before, these fences, gates will do nothing but keep out the legal dirt rider. The local yahoos will continue to ride there and ruin it for the rest of us.
