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History:

In January of 1999, a small group of people gathered at the Scanlon Creek Conservation Area to discuss the possibility of forming a local natural history club. The reason for considering such a group was twofold: First, to provide a group where residents (of York Region and Simcoe County) that had a special interest in passive outdoor recreation and natural history study could get together and share ideas, expertise, community projects and local natural history; Secondly, to create an environmental voice to constructively influence municipal planning. The result of the evening's discussion was the formation of the York-Simcoe Naturalists.

We meet on the 2nd Tuesday, September - June from 7:30pm - 9:30pm.
The meetings are free of charge and all are welcome to attend.

Address: (Note: for monthly meetings only)
Riverdrive Park Community Centre
20 Oak Street
Riverdrive Park, Ontario (East Gwillimbury)
(Click index - scroll to bottom to see map)

Mailing Address:

c/o York Simcoe Naturalists
PO Box 1464
Bradford, ON L3Z 2B7

Membership fee:

$25.00 per year
$30.00 per year
$300.00 per year

Single
Family
Lifetime (per member)

We welcome: Children ages 12 year(s) and up are welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian, young adults, adults and seniors.

If you are interested in becoming a member, click on the title "Membership" link above, print a form, fill it out and bring it with your payment to the YSN meeting.

The club features guest speakers (naturalist, earth related), provides outings (nature hikes, birding) plus teaches us to be stewards of our environment for our generation and the one to come.

Newsletter:

The Heron is published by and for our members and provides a preview of upcoming events, speakers, and outings and contains information on club activities and local observations.

Special Projects:

The York-Simcoe Naturalists are the official stewards of the Cawthra-Mulock Nature Reserve. The club is actively involved in maintenance and monitoring projects run through Ontario Nature on this Property. Other annual projects that the club is involved in include the Christmas Bird Count and the Great Canadian River Clean-up. York Simcoe Naturalists also actively provide input from an environmental perspective regarding municipal, regional and provincial issues.

Club Symbol:

The Black-crowned Night Heron
(Nycticorax nycticorax) is the bird
pictured in the club's logo

Cawthra-Mulock Nature Reserve

Located just north of the Oak Ridges Moraine, the Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve's rolling hills and forested ridges are a refuge for wildlife.

Donated to Ontario Nature in 2003, the Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve is a valuable contribution towards the conservation of nature. Mrs. Julyan Mulock and the Cawthra Mulock Foundation generously donated the 108 hectare property, ensuring that the land would be protected in perpetuity.

Located just north of Newmarket, the property is a valuable green space in a highly developed area of Ontario. It is identified as being a key natural area in the York Region Greening Strategy. The Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve also falls within the context of the Ontario government's new Greenbelt system.

View of the Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve

Surrounded by intense agricultural and urban development, the Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve provides refuge to a variety of wildlife. The most notable feature of this property is the diversity of habitats it encompasses. The property hosts a large tract of mature hardwood and mixed forests. Enormous beech trees rub shoulders with tall maples and hemlock. A small wetland area, dominated by birch trees and larch, is part of the

larger Ansnorveldt wetland complex. Located in the West Holland River watershed, the properety boasts two creeks. White-tailed deer, red fox, red-tailed hawks and great-horned owls are just a few of the residents that call this nature reserve home.

During the 31 years that the Mulocks lived on the property, they made a number of contributions towards its naturalization. Over 10,000 pines were planted in the old fields. A large pond was created near the main house. Many of the old fields were allowed to regenerate naturally and are now important habitat for a variety of sparrows and other meadow birds.

While Mrs. Mulock did have a system of footpaths throughout the property, Ontario Nature has not established a formal trail system. Please contact the Stewardship Coordinator at 416 444-8419 / 1 800 440-2366 ext. 264 for more directions and details before visiting the nature reserve.

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