Stoney Creek - Projects & Activities

New Signs along Stoney Creek Trails!

New Stoney Creek Trail signs have been installed in five locations along the walking trails next to the creek, in north London. These trails provide a great opportunity to enjoy the plants and animals that live near or in the creek while walking, running or biking.

The Friends of Stoney Creek created and installed the signs in partnership with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. Thanks go to the City of London for funding this project.

Segwaying through Stoney Creek Valley

Friends at the Ilderton Fall Fair!

The Friends of Stoney Creek shared a booth with the Friends of Medway and Oxbow Creeks at the Ilderton Fall Fair, September 30-October 2, 2011.

Community volunteers greeted and shared  information with fair goers about their watersheds and their enhancement activities.

These groups work hard to educate and raise watershed health awareness within their communities as well as organize projects such as riparian buffer restoration, soil erosion control, wildflower meadow habitats, and native tree planting.

Friends of Stoney Creek Open House - May 5

The FoSC are celebrating their 20th anniversary!

This program has been in place since 2002 and recognizes the valuable community contributions of nonprofit organizations and their volunteer members. The Pillar Nonprofit Network coordinates the program on the Mayor’s behalf, through a volunteer selection committee. The Friends of Stoney Creek received a mounted certificate presented by Mayor DeCicco-Best at the Council meeting.

From left: Mayor Anne-Marie DeCicco Best, Bob Shiell, Charlotte Bouckley, Carol Agocs, Walter Lockhart

Communities for Nature Program

Thousands of native trees and shrubs have been planted in the Stoney Creek watershed through the UTRCA's Communities for Nature program. Local students and community members are key partners in this program, which includes "Community Forestry," "Spreading Like Wildflowers" and "Aquatic Connections."

Community Forestry

Every spring and fall, the UTRCA and the Friends of Stoney Creek involve local students in Community Forestry projects. This program gives students an opportunity to plant some native trees and shrubs and learn about why it is important to naturalize areas. These projects take place within the City of London and Middlesex Centre.

Tree and shrub species recently planted include:

• Alternate Leaf Dogwood

• Basswood

• Black Cherry

• Bur Oak

• Choke Cherry

• Cranberry

• Ninebark

• Pussy Willow

• Red Osier Dogwood

• Serviceberry

• Staghorn Sumac

• Sugar Maple

• Sycamore

• White Cedar

• White Spruce

Spreading Like Wildflowers

The Friends of Stoney Creek have involved local students in planting wildflowers and grasses for many years. In the spring of 2010, three sites were naturalized including Hastings Park, the Graham Family EcoPark and the Sisters of St. Joseph's. Students from C.C. Carrothers Public School and Stoneybrook Public School were involved in these plantings.

Watershed Report Card Program

The Watershed Report Card Program is offered in October in the Stoney Creek watershed. The program, designed for secondary students, begins with a two hour field trip during which students investigate water quality (chemistry and biology) and conduct a habitat assessment. The field trip is followed up later with a classroom session, also led by UTRCA staff, in which students analyze and grade the forest conditions of the study area by using GIS mapping.

By the end of the program students have produced a report card for their local watershed, with grades given for water quality and forest conditions. Local actions for improvement are discussed with the students as a way for them to identify the methods a community can use to improve the environment in their area.

Classes from secondary schools located in each study area are invited to participate in this program. Preference is given to Grade 12 classes in Environmental Resource Management, Geography, Biology and Chemistry. This program is multidisciplinary and includes components consistent with each of the listed courses.