Our Mission
Foster awareness, appreciation, and protection of nature in North Durham: Townships of Brock, Scugog, and Uxbridge.
What We Do
We provide educational opportunities and foster awareness of nature, particularly the flora and fauna, as well as earth sciences and astronomy.
We lead and facilitate field trips to learn and experience nature. We promote the protection of nature, biological diversity and sustainability within North Durham.
We carry out projects in co-operation with other community groups, to conserve and protect the environment within North Durham.
Next Meeting
October 28, 2025 - An Introduction to Queer Ecology with May Matchim
7pm at Uxbridge Seniors Centre
Discover the fascinating world of queer ecology with naturalist May Matchim. Prepare to challenge your assumptions about the natural world as we explore species that defy heteronormativity and the sex binary.
Topics include:
- Sex change in amphibians and plants
- The sexual diversity and reproduction of plants
- Same-sex sexual behaviour in wildlife, including nesting and parenting
- Other species that challenge the sex binary and heteronormativity;
- The history of Queer Ecology as a field
- Barriers and biases that have prevented scientists from carrying out certain research
May Matchim (she/her) is an artist and naturalist based in Toronto. She's done work with a number of environmental organizations including the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre and Royal Ontario Museum. She's currently directing a feature length Queer Ecology documentary entitled Understanding Myself as an Amphibian.
For more on our upcoming meetings, check out our Talks Page.
Next Outing
Sunday October 5, 2025 - Fungi and Friends with Lynda and James Kamstra
Autumn is a time of year when many mushrooms appear on the forest floor, but there are also other interesting life forms to be seen. On this hike we will diligently search the ground and fallen logs for mushrooms, lichens, and what else can be found.
Registration is required: to sign up for the walk or for more information fill out this form. For more information on our upcoming walks, check out our Walks Page.
Announcements and News
Tree Planting Opportunity with Uxbridge Rotary Club
Uxbridge Rotary Club are planting "mini-forests" around Uxbridge using the Miyawaki forest. Their first planting was on the east side of the Fields of Uxbridge, and this fall they are planting two more on plots they have prepared and are looking for volunteers. Click the links below for more info or to register to help out
Saturday October 25: Pocket Forests Tree Planting @ King Street Parkette
Saturday November 1: Mini Forest 2.0 Tree planting @ Fields of Uxbridge
Uxbridge, Ontario - November 18, 2024 -- Nature Canada has made it official: Uxbridge Township is now one of the country’s “Bird Friendly” cities
Canada’s oldest national nature conservation society announced the Township’s certification, recognizing the efforts made by the Bird Team, Municipal Staff and Council and the local community to preserve and protect Uxbridge’s bird population.
“We’re not a bird-watching group,” Bird Team leader Carly Davenport explained. “We focus on birds because they're a good overall indicator of ecosystem health. When we see birds declining at this rate, it’s our warning that urgent conservation action is needed.”
She cited the case of grassland birds. Some of them breed in Uxbridge Township and are listed as threatened in Ontario.
“Our work extends beyond just protecting birds to benefit the environmental health of our community. It makes Uxbridge a more sustainable place to live.”
The team formed in January and, since then, has put in roughly 100 hours toward earning this designation. Certification feels great, but seeing biodiversity thrive in our community is the ultimate goal.
Learn more about Nature Canada’s Bird Friendly Cities program here:
To get involved with Bird Friendly Uxbridge, reach out to them on Instagram, Facebook (@birdfriendlyuxbridge) or find Carly at the next North Durham Nature meeting. Thank you to everyone who helped out and contributed!
Volunteer Opportunities
Need a ride to in-person NDN meetings? Can you be a volunteer driver to help others get to in-person meetings?
In order to make our club more accessible for those that don't or no longer drive, we would like to invite people to contact us to sign up--EITHER as a volunteer driver or to inquire about getting a lift. To make the system flexible and accommodate everyone's busy and unpredictable schedules (and weather conditions!), we would not expect a regular commitment but are willing to organize such arrangements on a month-by-month basis. Contacting us well in advance of the meeting date will ensure a greater chance of facilitation, and we will do our best to match riders and drivers.
Our club services the Townships of Brock, Scugog, and Uxbridge so if you live in these regions and are interested, please email the NDN admin team at northdurhamnature2@gmail.com.
Please be a Nature Walk volunteer!
Are you interested in helping out with one of our Walks in Nature, either by leading or assisting with a walk on a topic you are comfortable with? We would love to have you! In addition, we are always looking for new locations and/or nature topics to explore in North Durham so if you have experience or ideas to share, please contact Derek: ndnature7@gmail.com. Thanks!
Lafarge Regan Pit Birdhouse Project Moves to Goodwood
After 10 years the Uxbridge Regan Gravel pit habitat has become a forest and is no longer suitable for the targeted cavity nesting bluebirds and swallows. A new location was needed and identified by Lafarge's area manager Chris Galway. Green Durham Association (GDA) (many joint NDN members) have stepped up and moved the bird houses to Lafarge’s Goodwood open field property. This new private location has no active gravel operation and is open field and meadow. GDA has indicated they will monitor its success as Derek is stepping back from the action.
“We will maintain our ties to Lafarge Regan Pit and keep an eye on Bank Swallows and sparrows which nest there each summer” Derek says. If you are interested in helping out with the Goodwood Project contact Ranald McKay ----ranald.mckay@gmail.com
Canadian Bat Box Project
Here is the final newsletter of the Canadian Bat Box Project
Native Planting at the Uxbridge Countryside Preserve
North Durham Nature members Derek Connelly James Kamstra, Mark Humphrey and trail volunteer Norine Blyth planted 70 native grasses and 25 wildflowers in the Uxbridge Countryside Preserve Sunday morning. This restoration will help compete with the invading exotics. Autumn Olive shrubs, a recent invasive from Asia, were found growing in one planting area. Anyone interested in helping maintain these natural areas can contact Derek Connelly at ndnature7@gmail.com
North Durham Nature Newsletter is now Online!
Looking for some interesting, local nature content, but you've already finished January's installment of NDN's Newsletter? Well you're in luck! Old copies of our newsletter are now downloadable from our website for your reading pleasure.
Click here to check out seven years of content starting with our very first newsletter back in January 2014, or find the link under the "Friends and Links" tab up in the navigation bar.
Not a club member yet, but like what you see? Become a member to receive our most recent newsletters straight to your email.
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