Resilient Roots: A Guided Walk of Manitoba’s Native Prairie Grass
September 24 2023
Embark on a fascinating journey through the remnant prairie grass along the Headingley Grand Trunk Trail, guided by passionate biologist John Morgan.
You’ll delve into the intriguing world of native prairie grasses, discover the reasons behind their alarming decline across North America, and learn what you can do to help protect the small patches which remain.
John Morgan has decades of experience helping to restore tall grass prairies in Manitoba and in other prairie provinces and states through a firm he founded in the 1980’s called Prairie Habitats.
An engaging storyteller with an encyclopedic knowlege of prairie plants, John will lead an in-depth tour of a recently discovered historical treasure: a remnant of the tall grass prairie which stretched from Manitoba to Texas.
John will guide you through the grasses and teach you how to identify the beautiful plants which flourish within this resilient ecosystem. He will also share stories about the many ways in which people used these plants – to cure toothaches and mosquito bites – and what can be done to protect and restore this valuable ecosystem.
Some of the plants we spotted in June were:
- Prairie Sage
- Snowberry
- Goldenrod
- native sunflowers
- Prairie Smoke
- Dwarf Milkweed
- Prairie Wool
- Purple Crowfoot Violet
The plants are in constant evolution so visit often to see how the grasses change from month to month, and season to season.
This small field of remnant prairie was discovered on the southern tip of Alboro Street in Headingle by the HGTT association in 2016 and subsequently recognized by Manitoba Conservation.
Miraculously, this stretch of prairie grass has endured the onslaught of development and the operation of the rail line from 1894 to 1972, along with the progressive growth of the Headingley community.
Rolling hills of native prairie grass once covered enormous swathes of not just the Manitoba landscape, but also vast expanses of North America. Today, sadly, less than 1% of this valuable and important natural landscape survives across the continent.
This guided walk will last approximately 1.5 hours. We’ll meet at the south end of Alboro Street in Headingley. Further details will be sent via email to those registered.
About the CPAWS Manitoba Nature Club
CPAWS Manitoba’s Nature Club is designed to help Manitobans get outside, make new friends and learn about the wonders of nature.
We’ve developed a wide range of programming and activities to help Manitobans of all ages and abilities enjoy the health and wellness benefits of nature.
Find out more at our website – www.cpawsmb.org – and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so you don’t miss out on upcoming events.
Safety Protocols
CPAWS Manitoba takes the safety of all program participants seriously.
All CPAWS Manitoba staff members have cleared a criminal record and vulnerable sector background check with the Winnipeg Police Department.
CPAWS policy requires that at least one person leading programming that may involve children must be certified in first aid. This applies to staff or to volunteers.
—This programming was made possible thanks to the generous support of The Winnipeg Foundation, The Conservation Trust, the Government of Manitoba, and TD Friends of the Environment fund.—
