We were so pleased to receive $2500 last summer towards our Phragmites Removal project. It was a big help towards our Phase One/Year One project. We also have an invitation to apply again next year for Phase 2.

Why do we care?

Besides the phragmites making the property inaccessible, and impinging on the tennis courts, here is why we should care about this invasive species.

“Phragmites, also known as the European common reed, is one of the most aggressive invasive plants in Canada. It rapidly spreads and forms dense stands, outcompeting native vegetation, altering habitats, and impacting biodiversity. Phragmites disrupt wetlands, reduces habitat for wildlife, and impedes drainage in agricultural lands, leading to significant ecological and economic consequences. Managing and controlling Phragmites is crucial for preserving natural ecosystems and supporting the well-being of communities in Ontario.”  

Working with a specialist company, the phragmites were sprayed in October, and then cut down at the beginning of January. This gives us an opportunity to see what we have on the land, and in the spring, work to clean up the dead trees.

In Summer/Fall 2025, we will have the company come back in to spray and cut again. They anticipate this work to resolve the bulk of the phragmites situation. Then … we get to start to regrow this area with native species, suited to a wetland area.

For those of us who remember, it was a beautiful area with bulrushes, trees, flowers, birds, and more. We hope to return it to this kind of beauty,

Image by Mandy Selig from Pixabay