Restored hiking trail a victory in the war against emerald ash borer

Who's up for a hike this weekend?

The Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) main trail, which is south of Commissioners Road and east of Wellington Road, is officially re-opening Saturday.

The area had been damaged by years of cascading destruction caused by the emerald ash borer, a non-native species of beetle.

The emerald ash borer feeds on the inner bark of ash trees, and typically kills them within two to three years, said Linda McDougall, an ecologist in environmental and parks planning for the city of London.

The decimation of the ash trees provided an opportunity for buckthorn trees to grow, which—like the emerald ash borer—is another non-native, invasive species to London.

McDougall and her team saved as many native trees as possible, but she says the battle against the buckthorn will be ongoing. Buckthorn seeds can live in soil for up to five years.

"We're going to have to go back and treat those buckthorn seeds when they regrow, or any of the roots that resprout after mulching," she said.

The area has been open throughout the restoration process, but is now a much nicer place to be, said McDougall.

"It's a much more beautiful open area. It's going to be restored more like a savanna ecosystem. Wetlands and savannas and some forest."