Earlier, I've mapped the headwaters of the creek above the Burnhamthorpe Rd. I've been meaning to put a blurb on this spot for a while and this is the high time, given me stumbling on some exciting new information making for a more complete post.
This nano-ravine is possibly one of the best preserved parts of the protagonist of this blog. Even the northern branch of the creek is discernible to the eye. Images below.
Let us now embark on a virtual tour around the wood-lot and the ravine. Walking up from the west side, I followed the imprint in the grass from the water that likely still flows during rain and melt. Since the slope here is more pronounced towards the lake, the surface water flow is more vivant, as underlined by a high amount of storm drains (two of them are even in the groove that we are following) and a ditch leading towards Renforth Creek along the road immediately to the West of the park.
As soon as the city-maintained grass parch hits the wood-lot, the creek's bed becomes more pronounced.
The west side of the wood-lot features very diverse trees and shrubs. This is very impressive, since the place itself is the size of two local backyards. The flora seems pretty healthy, minus of-course the ever-present invasive garlic mustard. Also on this side is a historic house, moved here from somewhere else at some point. Inside is a museum with era antiques on display. You may host your wedding, etc there if you are into such a venue. The society in charge of the structure hosts plant sales and participates in doors open annually.
The south side of the park hosts a prairie-like tall grass habitat with loads of butterflies and a cosy sumac grove.
The inside of the grove is equally bucolic and unpleasantly destroyed by fellow humans. There is a network of charming little paths, birds singing, etc. BTW: beware of fire ants, they are ubiquitous here.
The downside was a number two with napkins that some representative of civilization downloaded, smack in the middle of the path, bottles and wrappers, and ultimately this:
Also, on literally the second step into the wood-lot, I got treated to a base of a beer bottle with shards going through my skin. Still itches. I flipped it, so the shards now go into the ground.
The creek-bed was moist and swampy with a bunch of animal paw prints around.
Thanks for reading. New posts are always cooking, Please comment for suggestions. Also soon I plan to expand my team and am looking for executive assistants/ contributors. Furthermore, if any-one has stories of personal experiences with Jackson Creek and especially pictures, please contact.
Feel free to disseminate this content in any way or form, including expanding the Wikipedia page.
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| Courtesy of Archives Toronto |
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| Imprint in the grass of the N branch |
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| 6 o'clock view of the 1st image |
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| View from within, the N branch is entering the main one in the centre of the pic |
Let us now embark on a virtual tour around the wood-lot and the ravine. Walking up from the west side, I followed the imprint in the grass from the water that likely still flows during rain and melt. Since the slope here is more pronounced towards the lake, the surface water flow is more vivant, as underlined by a high amount of storm drains (two of them are even in the groove that we are following) and a ditch leading towards Renforth Creek along the road immediately to the West of the park.
As soon as the city-maintained grass parch hits the wood-lot, the creek's bed becomes more pronounced.
The west side of the wood-lot features very diverse trees and shrubs. This is very impressive, since the place itself is the size of two local backyards. The flora seems pretty healthy, minus of-course the ever-present invasive garlic mustard. Also on this side is a historic house, moved here from somewhere else at some point. Inside is a museum with era antiques on display. You may host your wedding, etc there if you are into such a venue. The society in charge of the structure hosts plant sales and participates in doors open annually. 
At the Eastern terminus of the park, the water, when it flows, goes into a water drain. My guess is that it joins the rest of Jackson Creek in the unfortunate 427 Storm Sewer and drains into Etobicoke Creek at Dundas Street, where our creek goes to die and its zombie waters destroy the trails and wreck the ravines below through erosion, etc. The dead waters, devoid of UV ray treatment/ evaporation, ecosystem slow-down and purification also contribute to one of the most unhealthy ravine in Canada and ultimately a very poor quality beach and waterfront at Long Branch.
Unhealthy features include garbage and wood pile-ups by flash floods, due to the speed up of water via pipes. Such floods create holes and pools of water that are later remain cut off from the flow and produce countless mosquitoes that may carry the newest pathogen as a vector. Also destroyed ravine is perfect for invasive species, such as knot-weed, hog-weed and garlic mustard that create acres of monoculture wrecking the native ecosystems.
The south side of the park hosts a prairie-like tall grass habitat with loads of butterflies and a cosy sumac grove.
The inside of the grove is equally bucolic and unpleasantly destroyed by fellow humans. There is a network of charming little paths, birds singing, etc. BTW: beware of fire ants, they are ubiquitous here.
The downside was a number two with napkins that some representative of civilization downloaded, smack in the middle of the path, bottles and wrappers, and ultimately this:
Also, on literally the second step into the wood-lot, I got treated to a base of a beer bottle with shards going through my skin. Still itches. I flipped it, so the shards now go into the ground.
The creek-bed was moist and swampy with a bunch of animal paw prints around.
The human mis-activity here is evidence that all of us need to connect with the outdoors and Jackson Creek, as a significant piece of natural heritage must be restored for our use and benefit. Such use and benefit ought to be planned by the community through consultation, be based in proper science and planning, etc. While I respect the creator and caretakers of this wood lot and their admirable personal initiative, still this is simply the best that a very industrious Austrian dude could do (more on it later). We deserve a community effort to restore Jackson Creek and solve the predicament that previous generation left us with, Instead or together with the large scale piping projects that follower the Toronto Flood of 2013, water should be returned into this stream-bed and in my opinion, a pond ought to be created here for recreational and water quality purposes, similar to this one nearby.
Below, I would like to archive an event page with some very useful information about this landmark. Since said even has passed, I am afraid that the page may get deleted.
Mobile Mabelle Walks the City: Johann’s WoodLot
Applewood Shaver House Lot
Led By Johann Fisch
May 8, 2016, 1:00 PM, 2 Hours
Mobile Mabelle Walks the City: Johann’s WoodLot
Led By Johann Fisch
May 8, 2016, 1:00 PM
Meeting at Applewood Shaver House Lot
About This Walk
Join MABELLEarts for a narrative art walk through the Broadacres Park woodlot, in partnership with Jane’s Walk and as part of “Mobile Mabelle Walks the City”. Led by the woodlot’s enchanting creator, machinist and West Mall resident Johann Fisch, experience Johann telling the story of the woodlot he planted on Earth Day in 1981 and has nurtured every Earth Day for 35 years. Starting at the historic homestead, Applewood Shaver House, proceeding through the remnants of an orchard and arriving in the woodlot, participants will get take part in a poetic exploration of Johann’s story.
Walk Route
Applewood Shaver House Lot
Meet up at the Applewood Shaver House parking lot at 1pm. 450 The West MallEnter Johann's Woodlot
Through visual aids and with the assistance of ASL interpreters - we begin to tell the story of Johann's WoodlotUnraveling Johann's Woodlot
Starting in 1981, Johann planted a woodlot, starting with just 5 trees, so that he might have a better view from his condo balcony.The Centre of the Woodlot
Who is here? What will happen next?How to Find Us
We will be carrying an umbrella - rain or shine!Accessibility
Route May Contain
- Curbs and steps
- Uneven terrain
- Lowlight conditions
Thanks for reading. New posts are always cooking, Please comment for suggestions. Also soon I plan to expand my team and am looking for executive assistants/ contributors. Furthermore, if any-one has stories of personal experiences with Jackson Creek and especially pictures, please contact.
Feel free to disseminate this content in any way or form, including expanding the Wikipedia page.
