Volunteer Stewardship Program

For those of us who care about the environment and the survival of creatures of all kinds, finding a way to actually do something to help, enhances our own lives and will be a legacy to be proud of. Volunteer Stewards have been working with the City of Toronto since 1996, to protect and restore the remaining natural areas of High Park including large areas of Savannah with Black Oak trees and related flora and fauna.

During the spring, summer and fall the Stewards plant, collect seeds, and remove invasive species from restoration sites. The top current invasives include garlic mustard, tall sweet white clover, hedge parsley, oriental bittersweet, Himalayan balsam, and European (common) buckthorn. Volunteers also hold a Native Plant Sale in early May with plants grown in the High Park greenhouse and nursery. This work gives the rare native plants and dependent wildlife a fighting chance to prosper.

Volunteers may choose between two basic types of membership, core and casual. Casuals will be those who attend on a very infrequent basis. Core volunteers will be working behind the scenes on committees, becoming subject specialists, attending a special training session, providing leadership within the sessions and/or committing to attend a number of sessions during the year or regularly during specific seasons.

Sessions are held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month except December from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm rain or shine.  For work sessions, volunteers meet in front of the Grenadier Restaurant and go to work sites from there. Tools are provided but volunteers should dress covering arms, legs and feet. It is recommend that volunteers bring a hat, sunscreen, and water. Winter sessions are primarily educational and are held at the Howard Park Tennis Club, 430 Parkside Drive.

The following document is specific to the areas on this map: High Park Restoration

See www.highparknature.org for a wide range of information on plants, wildlife and conservation activities.