SUMMER ISSUE, 2002
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The Cruickston Carriage
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VOLUME 1, NO 2
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CELEBRATION DAY at Cruickston
The 2nd annual Cruickston Celebration Day was held 2 June 2002. Over 1100 visitors toured
the property, many participating in guided walks led by members of the K-W Field Naturalists. Music and food added to
the festivities. Greg Burns, Campaign Chairperson, brought everyone up-to-date on the progress of recent fundraising
efforts: so far donations total $4.7 million toward a goal of $17 million. Watch for details of the Campaign’s Official Launch
Event later this fall. In the meantime, please add your name to our list of supporters by sending a contribution to the
CCRR office.
Eagles: bio-indicators of watershed
A report released by OMNR (July 2002) identifies the reach of the Grand River between the confluence of the
Grand and Speed Rivers and Devil’s Creek, Cambridge, just downstream from CCRR, as a high risk zone because it is
an important winter feeding habitat for bald eagle. In 2001, two reaches of the Grand River upstream of the confluence
as far as the 401 bridge were also identified as such a zone. As an endangered species in Ontario, bald eagle and its
habitat are protected by legislation.
What does the presence of bald eagle tell us about the reaches of the Grand within
CCRR? The message is clear: the water quality of our river supports a food web that culminates in a top carnivore
(and scavenger), bald eagle, during a stressful period of its annual cycle, namely, the winter months. In large measure,
we have the Grand River Conservation Authority to thank because their management of the watershed has contributed to
this improvement in water quality; we’ve ourselves to congratulate for supporting programs and initiatives that result in
improved water quality.
More than eagles...
The City of Cambridge’s recommendation that a “no bridge option” be evaluated as part of the on-going roads
review was recently endorsed by Regional Council. Suggestions have been made that evaluating such an option is
being done only because of endangered bald eagles. There are other cogent reasons.
Cities throughout the world are investigating, if not creating, ways to return the natural environment to their city
landscapes, often at significant financial cost. In Cambridge, one of the most impressive natural landscapes is the
narrow linear corridor of the Grand and Speed Rivers, particularly where the rivers come together on the northwest
side of the city in Preston. Above and below this confluence, the Grand River flows through a panoramic vista of
floodwater flats only to narrow on its approach to Galt, adjacent to a regionally unique river escarpment whose
cliff faces extend 14 metres above the river’s surface. Like any narrow river channel, only its undisturbed length
through this section of the valley guarantees its biodiversity. This diversity is expressed in Cruickston Charitable
Research Reserve, not simply in terms of numbers of species but in its habitat and ecosystem diversity – creating
a truly ecologically sensitive landscape.
The “no bridge option” for Cambridge acknowledges a life-style that incorporates the natural landscapes into
a growing city. Anyone who has paddled a canoe from Moyer’s Landing in Blair to Riverbluffs Park in Galt,
cycled the Linear Trail in Preston at sunset, walked along the river escarpment of the Grand Trunk Trail through
Cruickston, or sought out these river reaches at the end of a busy day or on a weekend to pause, reflect and listen
to the sounds of the river and its biodiversity, values this life-style.
Yes, bald eagles also visit these river reaches with their spectacular cliffs and panoramic, floodplain vista where,
undisturbed, they perch along the shoreline and hunt the shallow waters. The eagles, of course, are only the
messengers – the message being that these river reaches offer unintruded open space and clean water to both
eagles and to ourselves.
Carriage Tracks ...
The Guelph Field Naturalists toured CCRR on 22 June 2002, exploring the Cliffs and Alvars
of the property.
The 2nd annual Cruickston Celebration Day was held 2 June 2002. Over 1100
visitors toured the property, many participating in guided walks led by members of the K-W Field Naturalists.
Music and food added to the festivities
On Saturday, 11 May 2002, Larry Lamb led the first-ever guided walk for CCRR. Twenty-two
Friends of Cruickston joined Larry to enjoy and learn about spring wildflowers.
On 30 April 2002, over 40 members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists, participating in
their Tuesday Travellers’ outings program, visited CCRR for a guided tour of both the natural and cultural
history of the property.
School of Planning Grad Students Advise CCRR
By Larry Martin, University of Waterloo
Graduate students from the University of Waterloo School of Planning Workshop, under the supervision of
Professor Larry Martin, conducted research in and around CCRR during the past winter term. Three Teams
composed of five or six students each (“consultants”) prepared advisory reports for CCRR (“client”).
One team addressed planning for Cruickston within a broader regional context. A second team examined
environmental and heritage education opportunities. The third team prepared a strategic plan for Cruickston’s future.
Teams addressed inventory and description, analysis/synthesis, design/prescription and implementation tasks.
As with many complex planning topics, this one is framed by different objectives and values among stakeholders.
There are many different interests with respect to urban development and environmental and heritage protection
in the Region. Personal mobility, environmental quality, heritage, urban growth and citizen participation have
different meanings for different people. In learning as much as possible about this project, the teams had an
opportunity to clarify issues and help others to understand and make constructive contributions to the
Cruickston vision.
In its report “Cruickston Park: A Regional Perspective” the first team identifies the numerous issues pertaining
to growth in the Region and assesses these issues as threats to the integrity of CCRR. The rapid growth of population
and economic activity was of immediate concern and was identified as the catalyst for pressure to build new roadways,
bridges and by-passes that could impinge on Cruickston land. The Report identifies a number of opportunities for the
Region to respond to growth without threatening the Reserve. Authors of the Report recommend that CCRR build
political leverage by establishing broad based public support for its vision. It should pressure the Regional
Government to accept alternative development and growth strategies to tackle issues connected to land use and
transportation demand.
The second team, in its report titled “Cruickston Park: Environmental and Heritage Education” lauds the
CCRR as rich in environmental and heritage resources. It identifies a number of actions for managing educational
opportunities and engaging the wider community. Partnerships are presented as means of supporting interpretive
services and garnering support. Recommendations are grouped into two phases. Phase I recommendations are
of short term and immediate priority and should be implemented within two years. Phase II recommendations
should be implemented within five years.
In the last report “Cruickston Park Strategic Plan” the third team identifies four strategic directions under the
titles, Heritage Protection and Restoration, Enhancing Public Benefit, Managing Human Impact, and Communication.
Each strategic direction, important on its own, is enhanced through the identification of linkages with the other
strategic directions. An example of linkages includes establishing a cultural advisory team, establishing partnerships,
developing “Friends of Cruickston” to assist with fund raising, designing and communicating a code of ethics for the
Reserve and stressing communication and openness with the larger community.
This project provided important benefits for the “consultants” and the “client”. The students had an opportunity
to apply their skills to a current issue of great importance to CCRR and residents of the Region. CCRR obtained
advice from competent, highly motivated teams who approached the issue with objectivity and commitment,
qualities that are often difficult to find when interests among citizens are in conflict.
U of W Students Plan a Trail System for CCRR
by Karen Hammond, University of Waterloo
Friends of Cruickston (www.cruickston.com) agree that there should be a public trail system through CCRR.
But where should the trails go? And what should they look like? Four students from the University of Waterloo,
School of Planning, have proposed some answers to these questions. Between December 2001 and April 2002,
Patrick Wetter, Magda Walaszczyk, David Huynh and Kate Dietrich explored options for developing a trail
system through the Cruickston property. They rambled about the site, and discussed ideas with CCRR board
members and local planners. They also conducted a literature search to understand the principles of good trail
design and to find high quality examples that might stimulate the collective imagination. The students undertook
this work as part of an independent project course supervised by Professor Karen Hammond.
The objectives of the project were to design a trail system that would:
- Showcase the beauty and uniqueness of the property
- Link the entire property and provide links to other nearby trail systems
- Prevent disturbance of ecologically sensitive areas
- Promote environmental education and passive recreation, while enhancing the visitor’s experience.
After the students established the best trail locations, they focused their attention on the areas of the Cliffs
and the Lowlands -- where the trails would most likely be developed first. They developed more detailed design
recommendations, suggesting the placement of bridges, boardwalks, lookouts and stairs. They also prepared a
series of design guidelines for:
- the character of the trail route and considerations for its construction
- trail signage
- trail furniture (benches, waste containers) and constructed elements (boardwalks and stairs)
These ideas are summarized on maps and in a 40-page report that were presented to the CCRR Board on
April 12, 2002. In the end, the students were grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in such an exciting,
practical learning adventure. The hope of the students is that the information they provided will be helpful to
CCRR in its endeavour to develop a well-designed public trail system at Cruickston.
Nature Notes
- In June, Heather Wilson located blue-spotted salamanders, the first recorded for CCRR. One specimen measured 9 cm.
- Dr. Wynn Watson confirmed the identification of 3 more species of mosses including sphagnum moss. These specimens were found by Larry Lamb.
- Larry Lamb added groundnut and harbinger-of-spring to the CCRR plant species list while conducting a guided walk for Friends of Cruickston to observe spring wildflowers in early May.
- Larry Lamb and Bill Wilson counted 101 flowering crab apple trees on the limestone plateau and nearby hedgerow in an area about the Walter Bean trailhead along the Grand Trunk Trail. Flowering crab apple is rare in Waterloo Region.
- Spring migrants observed by Bill Wilson in CCRR this May included a yellow-bellied flycatcher, the first documentation of this species on the property.
- Ted Ryczko spotted a near-mature bald eagle perched in a dead tree stub along the river escarpment on 7 May 2002.
Historical Hi Lites
William Ashton named Cruickston Park after the “Cruickston Castle” the ship that brought him from
England to the New World. One of his business ventures for the property was to establish a brewery, the
foundation of which remains along the lower middle reach of Bauman Creek. His choice of Bauman Creek for
his brewery’s water source was perhaps an obvious one in the 1850s; however, more than 150 years later the
water of Bauman Creek remains cold, clear and in its upper reaches, likely potable. This fall, University of
Waterloo student, Sean Barfoot will continue his honour’s thesis study examining the water quality of Bauman Creek.
Sean’s interest in the creek’s water quality, however, is an ecological one rather than a water source for
spiritus frumenti.
Cruickston Creatures
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
The presence of northern prickly-ash in several locations within CCRR has been of interest to members of the
Cruickston Ecological Advisory Team. First of all, this shrub is regionally significant in the Region of Waterloo and,
secondly, it serves as a food plant for the larva of the largest butterfly found in Canada, giant swallowtail. The adult,
with a wingspan of 8-11 cm is hard to miss. Unlike some butterflies that often fly too fast to determine their colour
pattern, the giant swallowtail has a somewhat leisurely flight and, because of its size relative to the flower blossoms
on which it feeds, rather than land, it continually vibrates its wings while feeding.
Giant swallowtail has a rather broad, dark brown upper wing surface crossed by a diagonal yellow band.
The under surface is predominantly yellow. The tails have visible yellow centres.
Giant swallowtail is a tropical species found in Central America, north through the eastern U.S. and into
southwestern Ontario, particularly at Point Pelee where it is common. In The Butterflies, a checklist of Waterloo
County, Lepidoptera (1967), Larry Lamb described the giant swallowtail as very rare. The few recent sightings
of giant swallowtail at Cruickston, are described in The Environmental Management Plan (to read the Plan, see
"Downloads" at www.cruickston.com/links.html). Watch for this large butterfly in
open fields and along the forest edges of Cruickston.
What’s Happening at CCRR
Guided Walks:
Meet at the parking lot of the Trans Canada Trail Pavilion, at the intersection
of Fountain Street and Blair Road/ Morningside Drive. Rain or shine.
Monday, 5 August 2002, 8 am–11 am:
Mid-summer birds along the Grand River. Spending Civic Holiday at home? Join Bill Wilson and
Friends of Cruickston to observe herons, shorebirds, waterfowl and songbirds. Breeding season has ended
for most birds; migration has begun for some. Telescopes will be available.
Saturday, 21 September 2002, 8 am–11 am:
Fall warblers on migration. Fall migration is a protracted affair for many birds. The third week of
September has been reliable for observing the passage of several warbler species. Join Bill Wilson and
Friends of Cruickston for a morning of fall warbler identification.
Sunday, 22 September 2002, 10 am–2 pm:
Asters & Goldenrods. Join Larry Lamb and Friends of Cruickston to enjoy and learn about fall
flowering plants. Bring lunch.
Seasonal Workshops:
Registation forms available online at www.cruickston.com Go to “Friends of Cruickston”.
Sunday, August 25, 2002, 9:30 am - 3 pm:
Water Quality and River Ecology. Join Ken Dance, Larry Lamb and Bill Wilson. We will
sample several different sections of the river in search of representatives of over 20 major taxonomic
groups of bottom-dwelling invertebrates. As well, participants will learn to conduct specific chemical
tests used to determine water quality of a river and the significance of their findings. Cost: Friends
of Cruickston Members: $25.00; Non-members: $33.00.
Sunday, October 6, 2002, 8:00 am - 4 pm:
Improving photography skills with your SLR camera.
Level: Beginner, novice and skill refresher. Instructor: Thelma Beaubien. The diversity
of the beautiful landscapes at Cruickston Charitable Research Reserve will be ours to explore and
photograph during our morning and afternoon sessions. Cost: Friends of Cruickston Members:
$55.00; Non-members: $75.00. Lunch included in cost.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers needed to help put up CCRR signs on steel posts.
If you can help, please call and leave your name and number: 519 650-9336.
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Newsletter Editor: Bill Wilson
