Looking at grass in a whole different light

Many people are trained to think that formal, cut lawns are what should be expected at tourist sites and surrounding visitor centres. We have made a positive choice to manage our grounds with minimal intervention. This is called ‘Naturalisation’. We do not use invasive chemical treatments anywhere on our site including weed killers or bug spray.

Naturalisation is an alternative landscape management technique. It is a method, which is more intense than it may at first seem. The natural processes of growth and change are less restricted and the landscape is therefore enabled to become more natural than decorative, which suits this site and its place within the local environment. The benefits of naturalised landscaping are many-fold. These include:

• Re-introduction of native plant species and re-establishment of bird and wildlife populations thanks to minimal human intervention.
• Plants reduce atmospheric greenhouse gasses, clean the air and maintain oxygen levels required to support life as well as stabilising slopes and importantly for this site, prevent erosion.
• The landscape will become a source of beauty as naturalized park and roadway sites mature.
• Noise levels are reduced for neighbouring properties as dense plantings mature.
  Reduced maintenance costs and impact on the economy of the site.

Through interpretation and understanding we shall re-educate visitors on what should be considered “attractive” in landscaping terms. There are already a large number of formal garden experiences offered by the attractions and accommodation as well as public gardens throughout Nova Scotia.

We want to offer an alternative territory, which is a complete departure from the formal lawn introduced by the wealthy Victorian industrialists in the 19th century and the constraints, which this type of landscape places on site management.

We believe that the re-visiting of traditional methods will provide a renaissance for the accumulated knowledge and understanding of our place in relation to the world in which we live. This encompasses relationships with the natural environment and the use of natural resources in a respectful and sustainable way. Our Grass margins, which when mown annually or bi-annually, will create the perfect habitat for increasing the biodiversity of both plant animal species.

Naturalisation of an environment is something which must be managed by nature, it needs time to evolve. The grounds here at the Joggins Fossil Centre are required to receive minimal intrusion to allow the behaviour and succession of the plant varieties to be observed and a future plan for landscape management to evolve based upon existing species and the re-introduction of further species native to the Acadian Forest region. We have been in consultation with the Harriet Irving Botanical Garden at Acadia University in matters of indigenous species and the re-naturalisation of the grounds.

Is it working? When you visit, take a look at a square meter of our grounds where we have mown (with a push mower and not a gas or electric powered one by the way). How many varieties of plant and animal species can you see? Now take a look at our grass margins and count how many you can see there. There is a tremendous difference.

I'm always happy when I see people stop, bend down and take a photograph of our grass; macro lens for the close-ups on the flowers and wide angle for the full-effect of the grass, which waves in the breeze like the water in the Bay beyond.

Why, only the other day a gentleman walked past my office, stooped to pick a handful of clover flowers and re-commenced his walk, eating the flowers as he went, like a fistful of candy.

Is it working? absolutely.