Preserving Markham’s natural spaces

More than a dozen Markham council candidates who responded to a recent Friends of Swan Lake Park (FOSLP) survey said they would support investments and programs aimed at protecting the biodiversity of Markham’s green spaces and public parks.

FOSLP Chair Fred Peters said Markham has established policies aimed at protecting biodiversity, but recent staff reports to council indicate that additional resources may be needed to fully implement them. According to FOSLP, the candidates who responded said they would support additional staffing where needed and encourage volunteer-led stewardship programs in the city’s green spaces.

Most respondents also said Markham could do more to sustain the biodiversity of Swan Lake Park, according to FOSLP. Some candidates said they would need more information before supporting specific proposed enhancements to the park.

Residents had an opportunity to learn more about Swan Lake Park and meet some council candidates during FOSLP’s fall biodiversity event at the park on Sept. 26.

The event featured free guided activities focused on the park’s natural environment, including a birding walk highlighting fall migration, a session on gardening for pollinators, forest bathing and nature reconnection, and a program on invasive-plant stewardship.

Participants also learned about ways to make their homes more bird-friendly and about efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity at Swan Lake Park.

For more information about FOSLP’s survey and its work at Swan Lake Park, visit friendsofswanlakepark.ca.

Photo: Sheniz Janmohamed leads the Forest Bathing walk, which was one of the many activities at this year’s FOSLP fall biodiversity event held on Sept. 26. (supplied photo)