For anyone itching to get their hands dirty – or not!, gloves optional – there will be a clean-up at Stayner’s hidden gem, The EcoPark, next Saturday, April 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., along with opportunities to learn about Clearview environmental initiatives in celebration of Earth Day. Since 2015, the EcoPark offers “accessible walking trails, interpretive signs and a bird blind to view some of the over 200 different species of birds that migrate through and live in Clearview Township.”

The Friends of the EcoPark have been busy, planting well over 1,000 native plant and tree species, starting a community garden that helps grow food for local food banks, creating an infinity pollinator garden, installing a wildlife tracking station, and a barn swallow habitat. This is a great chance to help support an amazing community resource.

Another opportunity to show your support of earth-friendly actions is coming up on April 28, when Brenna Lattimore will be following up on the very successful Boulevards, Bylaws, Butterflies and Birds panel with a deputation to council at the Clearview Township Administration Centre in Stayner just after 5:30 p.m. – public attendance is encouraged.

Some other things you can do in honour of Earth Day:

1. Go outside and enjoy all the living things around you;
2. Leave the leaves! This is an easy way to support all those creatures taking refuge there;
3. Plant a native tree – oaks are a keystone species supporting more life than any other North American tree genus;
4. Learn more about the natural world – there are some amazing discoveries out there. The Hidden Life of Trees, Entangled Life, and Gathering Moss are great reads full of fascinating info;
5. Use less stuff. Enjoy the adventure of challenging yourself to reuse, repurpose, and retrieve.
6. If your heating system needs to be replaced, consider a cold climate heat pump – funding may be available;
7. Consider more local trips instead of international (Paris, Ontario instead of Paris, France). Flying is very hard on our environment and there is a world to explore closer to home, and Canadian businesses could use our support;
8. Support local food production, whether at local stores stocking this produce, or from farmers directly;
9. Cultivate some native plants – whether beautiful bloomers or hardy bushes, there are a myriad of choices;
10. Vote in the upcoming federal election. How does each party’s platform on environmental protections look after the places you love?

Suzanne Wesetvik is a member of the Clearview Sustainability Network.