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My name is Karen Lee and I am a trained Lead Steward with Toronto Nature Stewards (TNS). I hope to engage nearby residents and community organizations to make this park better for both humans and wildlife!
This page will contain essentials on what you need to know about Stewarding at Milliken District Park!
Roles and Responsibilities
Roles and Responsibilities
Lead Steward - As your guide, the lead steward will plan and host stewardship events at the site. The lead steward will prioritize over your safety during the event and help identify plants to remove or keep. As a result, each event is limited to a maximum of 1:10 Lead Steward to Steward ratio. The lead steward will keep the group closely together for safety and remain accessible for questions for the whole group.
Steward (You) - Your participation is vital. With the guidance of the lead steward, we tackle the invasive plants together to restore biodiversity. Whenever you are uncertain about a plant, please consult with the lead steward before taking action. Be sure to stay close to the group and do not wander off. Let your lead steward know If you must leave prior to dismissal for safety purposes.
Stewardship Map
Stewardship Map
Map of Milliken District Park Stewarding Sites and Boundaries
Meetup Locations and Parking
Meetup Locations and Parking
As the stewarding program is new, our official meeting point will be at the park's parking lot (here) and it is best to park there. However, once you are familiar with our working areas, you may let us know during sign up to meet us directly at the area.
Management Unit 1 is next to a community entrance.
Management Unit 2/3 are located on the south side. (Recommended Street Parking)
Management Unit 4 is located on the north east side of the trails.
Events
Events
Last updated: Apr 19, 2024
Time and Date to be confirmed via email.
2024 Season - Generally Friday 6pm-8pm, and every other Sunday 3pm-5pm
Friday, Jun 7 @ 6-8pm Sunday, Jun 9 @ 3-5pm or 10am-12pm TBD
Friday, Jun 14 @ 6-8pm
Friday, Jun 21 6-8pm Sunday, Jun 23 @ 3-5pm
Friday, Jun 28 @ 6-8pm
Friday, Jul 5 @ 6-8pm Sunday, Jul 7 @ 3-5pm
Friday, Jul 12 @ 6-8pm
Friday, Jul 19 @ 6-8pm Sunday, Jul 21 @ 3-5pm
Friday, Jul 26 @ 6-8pm
Friday, Aug 2 @ 6-8pm Sunday, Aug 4 @ 3-5pm
Friday, Aug 9 @ 6-8pm
Friday, Aug 16 @ 6-8pm Sunday, Aug 18 @ 3-5pm
Friday, Aug 23 @ 6-8pm
Friday, Aug 30 @ 6-8pm Sunday, Sep 1 @ 3-5pm
2023 Season
Saturday, May 13 @ 1:30-3pm - Photopoint week
Saturday, May 27 @ 9:30am - 11am - Cancelled
Friday, June 2 @ 7pm - 8:30pm
Friday, June 16 @ 7pm - 8:30pm - Cancelled due to thunderstorm risk
Saturday, Jul 8 @ 10am - 12pm - Photopoint week
Friday, Jul 21 @ 7pm - 8:30pm
Friday, Aug 11 @ 7pm - 8:30pm
Saturday, Aug 19 @ 10am - 12pm
Saturday, Sep 9, 2023 @ 1:30-3:00pm - Photopoint week
Links and Resources
Links and Resources
Toronto Nature Stewards webpage
Milliken District Park Invasives
Milliken District Park Invasives
Click on these commonly found species to learn how to identify and manage/remove these species. We will also review our activities at the beginning of each event.
Burdock - Targeted stewardship time: May and June
Common Buckthorn - Targeted stewardship time: October to November
Dog Strangling Vine - Targeted stewardship time: May to September
Garlic Mustard - Targeted stewardship time: May to mid-July
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I claim volunteer hours?
A: Yes, please email your lead steward to make an arrangement.
Q: What are the benefits to these stewardship activities?
A: By removing invasive plants, native plants population can be restored, allowing a that support local wildlife can recover and support
From CanadianInvasives.ca, invasive plants can interfere with forest regeneration and productivity through direct competition…[...] results in wildlife habitat, [...] making it more vulnerable to insects and diseases.
Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) branches end in a short, sharp thorn which may inflict injury
Garlic mustard can displace native wildflowers like trilliums (Trillium sp.) and trout lily (Erythronium americanum). It hinders other plants by interfering with the growth of fungi that bring nutrients to the roots of the plants.
Dog-strangling vine forms dense stands that overwhelm and crowd out native plants and young trees, preventing forest regeneration
Burdock is a concern for wildlife, particularly birds and bats that get tangled up in old burrs
Q: How do I volunteer at other sites?
A: Go to the Become a Steward page, select the site of your choice and fill out a contact form.
Q: How do I become a Lead Steward?
A: If you find yourself wishing to take on a bigger role at Milliken or at another site, please visit the official TNS website's Become a Lead Steward page. We need more people to help protect 6000+ hectares of Toronto natural areas. TNS had approvals to steward 74 hectares as of 2022. The training programs are run once a year in the winter. Sign-ups are available during the Fall.
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