About
Ne:toh ho gyo’tgo:t egahado:do’k – Maam-pii naksin m’tigwaaki pane – McMaster Forest Nature Preserve is a 127 acre – 51.5 hectare property located at 1105 Lower Lions Club Road, Hamilton and is owned by McMaster University. The property was designated as environmentally significant natural land, to be used for ecologically sensitive teaching, research and recreation purposes by the McMaster Senate and the Board of Governors on October 22, 2015. With a continued vision for the property and to support reconciliation, the McMaster Senate and the Board of Governors approved updated names for the property on June 9, 2022. These new names will be displayed in Cayuga, Ojibwe, and English.
The property is located about five kilometres southwest of campus, right on the 5C or 51 HSR bus routes. The closest bus stop is the West Hamilton Bus Loop and then a short walk to the forest down Lower Lions Club Road.
McMaster Forest Nature Preserve is an incredibly biodiverse area of mixed forests, old growth forests, wetlands, meadows, creeks, and prairie. The proximity to campus, combined with the incredible diversity of animal and plant species thriving on the property, make the McMaster Forest Nature Preserve an ideal research, recreation, and teaching facility. Many undergraduate courses make use of the property as well as undergraduate and graduate research projects.
The public is welcome to explore the area, but is asked to please adhere to posted signage, stay on trail, and not disturb ongoing research.
Information Box Group
Walk Directions
4.1 km – 52 minutes
Bike Directions
4.6 km – 18 minutes
Bus Directions
300 m walk, 4 km bus – 17 minutes
Drive Directions
4.4 km – 10 minutes
Information Box Group
A Haven for Wildlife McMaster Forest iNaturalist Project
A wide array of species call McMaster Forest home, with almost a thousand being observed on site on iNaturalist. These species range from centuries-old Sugar Maples and herds of White-Tailed Deer to tiny Eastern Red-backed Salamanders and bees only a few millimeters in length. Ongoing restoration efforts continue to improve the habitat, supporting populations of rare and unique species. More species are found at McMaster Forest all the time, and anyone can contribute to our knowledge of the biodiversity of this wonderful area. When you visit McMaster Forest, consider making an iNaturalist observation of some of the wildlife you spot. You may be the first person to record that species at this location, and the data you collect will provide valuable knowledge about the ecosystem.
History
History
The Hamilton area has a rich history, to which McMaster Forest is no exception. Prior to European contact the area was inhabited and used by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years and the property would have been covered in rich forests, swamps, and marshes. After the American Revolutionary War (1775 – 1783) the property and surrounding area was deeded by the British Crown. Over time, the forests were cut down for timber and cleared for farming. Farming continued at this site up until the mid 1950’s when the property was sold for potential development.
The hard-packed clay soil and poor drainage conditions made building difficult and the property was sold to McMaster University in two parts in 1964 and 1969, respectively. McMaster hoped that the area could be developed into an Ancaster satellite campus with a front entrance off Lower Lions Club Road and a private road to the north connecting the Ancaster satellite campus to McMaster’s main campus. This road would have run along what is currently Ancaster Creek/Coldwater Creek. Development was halted due to the difficult building conditions and environmental concerns from the university and governing bodies. The property would be largely unused by the university until 2012. In 1996 the northern portion of the property and much of the ravine land/floodplain was sold to the Hamilton Conservation Authority.
In 2013 and 2014 members of the McMaster Biology Department, university staff, and students worked to remove a large thicket of invasive European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) trees and turning the cleared area into tallgrass prairie habitat. Tallgrass prairie habitat used to be widespread across Southern Ontario but has dwindled to less than 3 percent remaining. This unique habitat type is home to a large biodiverse group of plants and animals. From 2013 to the present, the property has been widely used by undergraduate and graduate students, professors, and the public for research, teaching, and passive recreation purposes.
On October 22, 2015, the McMaster University Senate and Board of Governors officially designated the property as an area of environmentally significant natural land, to be used for ecologically sensitive teaching, research, and recreation purposes. On this same date they approved the official naming of the property as “McMaster Forest”. The property is now permanently protected and will continue to be an important place for research, teaching, enjoying stunning recreational trails, and incredible biodiversity.
Timeline
Indigenous peoples have inhabited the Hamilton area for at least the last eleven thousand years, according to archeological and historical evidence, and traditional cultural knowledge and teachings. The earliest recorded group was the Attiwandaronk (Neutral Nation) people, who were a confederation of Iroquoian tribes living in the area of Western Lake Ontario. French explorers were the first Europeans to encounter the Indigenous communities in the early 1600’s. In the mid 1650’s the Attiwandaronk people were defeated and displaced by the Iroquois Nations (Confederacy) who moved into the area. Remaining Attiwandaronk people were incorporated into the Seneca people. Later, the Mississauga people moved into the area. In 1701, the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Odawa (Ottawa), Chippewa, Mississauga, Saulteaux, Nipissing and Algonquin people) and Haudenosaunee (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca people) Nations signed the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement. The Wampum Agreement stated that the Nations would live in peace and share resources, such as hunting grounds. In the late 1700’s the British Crown purchased large areas of land from the Mississauga people. The land was to be offered to British Loyalists following the American Revolutionary War.
On December 1, 1798, the British Crown deeded Lots 51 & 52, Concession 1 in the Township of Ancaster to Michael Showers Jr.
Michael Showers (Jr.) was born in 1771 in Wyoming Valley, Luzerne, Pennsylvania. His parents were Michael (Sr.) and Hannah Schauer (later Showers). Michael Showers Sr. was a British loyalist; in 1778, he went to Niagara, Upper Canada, Quebec to fight with the British Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Michael Showers Sr. would fight with the British up until the final year of the war.
In 1778, Michael Showers Jr., his six siblings, and his mother fled from Pennsylvania to the Machiche Loyalist Refugee Camp, Lower Canada, Quebec. In 1781, Michael Showers Sr. received permission to move his family from Machiche Loyalist Refugee Camp, Lower Canada, Quebec to Niagara, Upper Canada, Quebec and they started farming the area. Later on the Showers family moved to the Town of Dundas, West Flamborough Township, Upper Canada, Quebec in 1787 and then later to the Township of Ancaster, Upper Canada, Quebec. On July 6, 1793, Michael Showers Sr. & Jr. made a land petition to the British Crown for lands promised to loyalists following the war. On December 1, 1798, that petition was granted and Michael Showers Jr. was given all of Lots 51 & 52, Concession 1 in the Township of Ancaster, Upper Canada.
As of 1781, the Showers family is believed to be one of the first loyalist farmers permitted to settle in Upper Canada.
On June 9, 1804, Michael Showers Jr. and his wife Eleanor sold their lands of Lot 51 & 52, Concession 1 in the Township of Ancaster to Richard & Suzanne Hatt.
On February 11, 1886, Thomas Hatt sold his lands (In the area that would become McMaster Forest) to Mark M. Binkley (44 acres) and Abraham J. Binkley (77 acres). The land was and would continue to be used for farming.
On March 28, 1888, Mark M. Binkley and Abraham J. Binkley sold their land (85.8 acres) to William McMullen. The land was and would continue to be used for farming.
On April 12, 1954, Ernest McMullen sold his lands (77 acres), which currently are the southern 2/3’s of McMaster Forest, to John A. Wright. McMullen was the last farmer on the property and his family owned the land since the late 1880’s. The land was used primarily for potato farming in its later years.
On January 14, 1958 John A. Wright sold his land (which currently are the southern 2/3’s of McMaster Forest) to Cadmus Developments Limited. Cadmus Developments Limited purchased the site hoping to develop it.
On February 10, 1959, Cadmus Developments Limited sold their lands (which currently are the southern 2/3’s of McMaster Forest) to Adam Calder and Sons Limited. Adam Calder and Sons Limited purchased the site hoping to develop it.
In 1964, McMaster bought the lands that are currently the Southern 2/3’s of our McMaster Forest property. This land was purchased from Adam Calder & Sons Limited and Calder Developments Limited. The development companies had been unsuccessful in developing the lands and McMaster purchased the lands hoping to develop them.
On July 22, 1969, McMaster bought the lands (110 acres) that are currently the northern 1/3 of our McMaster Forest property and the lands currently owned by the Hamilton Conservation Authority North of McMaster Forest. This land was purchased from the Corporation of the County of Wentworth.
In 1996, McMaster severed what is currently McMaster Forest from the other natural lands it owned to the North and East in the Ancaster Creek and Sulphur Springs Creek valleys. The land (129 acres) was then sold to the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) and the HCA incorporated the lands into the Dundas Valley Conservation Area feeder lands. McMaster retained the McMaster Forest property (then unnamed and unused).
In 2012, McMaster Biology professors Dr. Susan Dudley and Dr. Chad Harvey were tasked with creating a research space at the future McMaster Forest. In December 2012, Dr. Dudley, Dr. Harvey, and Wayne Terryberry (Coordinator of Outdoor Recreation and Natural Lands) secured a $5,000 grant from McMaster President Patrick Deane’s Forward With Integrity initiative, and $5,000 funding from the Faculty of Science to ecologically restore the property by removing invasive species and create a tallgrass prairie at the site. In 2013, they received a $140, 000 grant from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation to continue their work. This involved the removal of acres of invasive European buckthorn thickets, other invasive species removal, creation of tallgrass prairies, creation of a large 400 metre by 500 metre Smithsonian Dynamic Forest Research Plot, and the creation of a trail system on the property.
On October 22, 2015 the McMaster University Senate and Board of Governors officially designated the property as an area of environmentally significant natural land, to be used for ecologically sensitive teaching, research and recreation purposes. On this same date they approved the official naming of the property as “McMaster Forest”. The property is now permanently protected from development and will continue to be an important source of research, an amazing teaching opportunity, offer stunning recreational trails, and an incredibly biodiverse area for future generations to enjoy.
In late summer and early fall of 2021 Nature at McMaster’s Wayne Terryberry & Noah Stegman and McMaster Centre for Climate Change’s (MCCC) Dr. Altaf Arain, came together to create the McMaster Carbon Sink Forest project. With support from McMaster’s Academic Sustainability Programs Office, Trees for Hamilton, and McMaster’s Facility Services Grounds Department, a one hectare research plot was established on land adjacent to McMaster Forest. Conservationists Mark Tamminga and Bill Walker generously allowed their land to be leased by McMaster for this project. Additional support came from Guelph University’s Gosling Research Institute for Plant Preservation (GRIPP), in the form of disease resistant American Elm (Ulmus americana) trees to be included as part of the planting effort. The project will involve the planting of approximately 1100 trees of a variety of species native to the area. The trees will be monitored annually by members of MCCC for carbon sequestration and other natural asset values/environmental factors. To keep up to date on the project please visit their website here.
With a continued vision for the property and to support reconciliation, the McMaster Senate and the Board of Governors approved updated names for the property on June 9, 2022. These new names will be displayed in Cayuga, Ojibwe, and English. We thank Renae Hill and Cheyanne Herder for their time and knowledge to develop these names and translations.
NE:TOH HO GYO’TGO:T EGAHADO:DO’K – CAYUGA (GAYOGOHÓ:NO’)
MAAM-PII NAKSIN M’TIGWAAKI PANE – OJIBWE (ANISHINAABEMOWIN)
McMASTER FOREST NATURE PRESERVE – ENGLISH
Recreational Trails
Recreational Trails
McMaster Forest is host to a network of recreational walking trails that allow visitors to experience and view many different habitat types. Benches are located along the recreational trails at key lookout points or rest areas. All recreational trails are classified as moderate terrain and are mainly unmaintained and signed “Use at Own Risk”. Dogs/pets are welcome, but must be leashed at all times for the safety of your pets, other trail users, wildlife, and research projects. Biking, horseback riding, and motorized vehicles are not permitted under any circumstances. Please adhere to all posted signage and stay on trail. For a complete list of permitted and prohibited uses please see below map.
Currently the property does not have an accessible trail, but there are hopes to have one in the future.
Poison ivy, wood nettle, many thorny and bur like plants, dog ticks, and deer ticks (Lyme disease vector species) all exist on the property and proper precautions should be taken.
When winds exceed 40km/h the recreational trails on the property are closed for safety concerns.
The property is closed between sunset and sunrise.
Prairie Loop Trail (0.65 km) – Green
A short flat recreational trail that features tallgrass prairie habitat.
McMaster Forest Loop Trail (1.8 km) – White
A moderate terrain recreational trail with small to moderate elevation gains featuring new growth forests and ravines, old field/meadows, and prairie habitat.
Bluebird Loop Trail (0.8 km) – Blue
A short flat recreational trail that features old field/meadow habitat and many bluebird boxes.
McMullen Loop Trail (1.3 km) – Yellow
A moderate terrain recreational trail with small elevation gains featuring new growth and old growth forests, old field/meadows, and berry thickets.
Permitted Public on Trail Uses:
- Hiking
- Dog Walking (on leash)
- Snowshoeing
- Private Nature Photography
Written Permission Required:
- Research activities on or off trail (including placement of equipment or collection of samples)
- Placement of signage
- Placement of geocaches
- Placement of any infrastructure or equipment
- Drone use
- Organized group use of the trails and/or property
- Any and all commercial activities
Strictly Prohibited Activities:
- Disturbing any scientific equipment, stakes, or flagging
- Disregarding any posted signage or closures
- Off trail recreation
- Off leash dogs or other pets
- Mountain biking
- Collection or destruction of vegetation (including plant parts, seeds, and fruits), rocks, mushrooms, and wildlife
- Horseback riding
- Motorized vehicles
- Cross country skiing
- Camping
- Fires of any kind
- Hunting
- Carrying of weapons of any kind
- Tree climbing
- Hobbyist drone use
- Metal detecting
- Dumping of any kind
- Access after sunset and before sunrise
Ecology
McMaster Forest is a Hamilton hidden gem that is a vital ecological hub for the Dundas Valley. McMaster Forest is located within the Spencer Creek Watershed: Ancaster Creek Subwatershed: Lower Valley Catchment Areas. Learn more about the properties flora and fauna and numerous ecological zones.
Designations:
Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) – KBA Canada
• Dundas Valley to Cootes Paradise (ON194)
Important Bird and Diversity Area (IBA) – Bird Studies Canada
• Dundas Valley and Dundas Marsh (ON005)
Niagara Escarpment Plan Area Designation – Niagara Escarpment Commission
• Natural Area and Protection Area
Life Science Area of Natural Scientific Interest (ANSI) – Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
• Ancaster Creek Valley – Regional Significance
Significant Woodlands – City of Hamilton
Greenbelt Protected Countryside – City of Hamilton
Local Natural Area, Environmentally Significant Area – City of Hamilton
Dundas Valley Environmentally Significant Area – Hamilton Conservation Authority
Area of environmentally significant natural land, to be used for ecologically sensitive teaching, research and recreation purposes – McMaster University
McMaster Research and Conservation Corridor – McMaster University
Information Box Group
Ancaster Creek Learn more about Ancaster Creek
Ancaster Creek snakes through McMaster Forest, cutting a deep ravine that diversifies the topography of the forest and collecting precipitation that falls across the region to feed Spencer Creek and Cootes Paradise. Ancaster Creek provides habitat for numerous aquatic species, including Rainbow Trout.
McMaster Forest Flora and Fauna
McMaster Forest is home to over 1000 recorded species, with more and more species identified every year. This leads to a high species diversity of plants, insects, and birds. See how many different species you can spot next time you visit the property!
Log your observations on iNaturalist and see what fellow naturalists have observed!
Bees
With over 200 species, McMaster Forest has the largest recorded bee species diversity of any surveyed site in Ontario.
Bees are vital to sustaining ecosystems by pollinating plants.
McMaster Forest is home to one federally listed species at risk (listed as Special Concern) bee, the American Bumble Bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), and is home to 15 provincially rare bee species.
Some include:
- Trout Lily Miner Bee (Andrena erythronii)
- Beebalm Sweat Bee (Dufourea monardae)
- Orange Cuckoo Nomad Bee (Epeolus autumnalis)
- Hoary Long-horned Bee (Peponapis pruinosa)
- Buttercup Cuckoo Sweat Bee (Sphecodes ranunculi)
Photo: Pure Sweat Bee (Augochlorella aurata) on Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), by Noah Stegman
Birds
McMaster Forest has several different ecological zones (eco sites), making it an ideal bird habitat. McMaster Forest is a bird refuge in Hamilton, part of the Dundas Valley & Dundas Marsh Important Bird Area (IBA #ON005).
Over 120 bird species have been sighted on the property, although not all nest here. 12 federally listed and 13 provincially listed species at risk have been observed.
Some of these species at risk include:
- Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
- Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
- Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)
- Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
- Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)
Photo: Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna), by Rob Porter
Plants
McMaster Forest has an incredible diversity of plant species, with over 400 recorded (the number of extant species likely being much higher). Many ecozones and the properties’ location within the Carolinian Zone allow for various habitats and plants, such as creeks, marshes, prairie, meadows, savannas, and forests.13 rare to the Hamilton area plant species have been identified.
Some of these species include:
- White Trout Lily (Erythronium albidum)
- Giant Yellow Hyssop (Agastache nepetoides)
- Great Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea)
- American Pokeweed (Phytolacca decandra)
- American Groundnut (Apios americana)
Photo: Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), by Martha Kilian
Trees
As the name suggests, McMaster Forest is filled with beautiful sprawling forests (over 60 species of trees & shrubs), including a section of old-growth forest. Old-growth forests, few of which remain in Ontario, are forests that have never been cleared or logged and are hundreds of years old. Keep your eye out for large Tulip (Liriodendron tulipifera), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), and Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) trees!
McMaster Forest is also home to two endangered and protected trees; the Eastern Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), which shows off its beautiful flowers every spring and Butternut (Juglans cinerea). Historically the property was home to the critically endangered American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), but it has since been extirpated from this location.
Photo: McMaster Forest, by Rob Porter
Reptiles and Amphibians
McMaster Forest is home to seven recorded amphibian and five recorded reptile species. Of these species only two, the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum), are listed as federal species at risk (Special Concern).
Some of the other species found on the property include:
- Dekay’s Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi)
- Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
- Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
- Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
- Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
Photo: Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), by Noah Stegman
Fish
McMaster Forest has three cold water creeks flowing through the property; Ancaster Creek and two unnamed tributaries of Ancaster Creek. Cold water creeks are becoming increasingly rare in Ontario as they lose their tree cover (which cools the water) to development. Within these watercourses, 17 fish species have been identified (although there may be more).
One significant species found here is the Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), although not a native species, it is an indicator of cool water and a healthy watercourse. The native Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was likely once found in Ancaster Creek and its tributaries, but has likely been extirpated. Ongoing creek restorations by Trout Unlimited and the Hamilton Conservation Authority seek to remove blockages to fish migration and improve water quality.
Photo: Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), by Ancaster Creek Biomonitoring Team 2015
Invertebrates (Excluding Bees)
Over 200 non-bee invertebrates have been identified at McMaster Forest and surrounding territories. This is a small fraction of the likely hundreds of species found across the many different ecozones on the property. This ranges from spiders & other arachnids, dragonflies & damselflies, beetles, wasps, butterflies & moths, flies, crayfish, and many more.
A notable species is the federally endangered Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus).
Some of the other species found on the property include:
- Big Water Crayfish (Cambarus robustus)
- Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly (Calopteryx maculata)
- Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio troilus)
- Spongy Oak Apple Gall Wasp (Amphibolips confluenta)
- Six Spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata)
Photo: Ground Beetle (Carabus maeander), by Noah Stegman
Fungi
McMaster Forest has recorded over 75 species of fungi on the property, there are likely many species yet to be identified. This includes lichens, mushrooms, rusts, leaf spots, and pathogens.
Please remember mushroom harvesting is not permitted on this property.
Some of the other species found on the property include:
- Trumpet Lichen (Cladonia fimbriata)
- Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea)
- Fairy Fingers (Clavaria fragilis)
- Brittle Cinder (Kretzschmaria deusta)
- Bears Head Tooth (Hericium americanum)
- Orange Berry Rust (Arthuriomyces peckianus)
Photo: Crown-tipped Coral Fungus (Artomyces pyxidatus), by Noah Stegman
Mammals
McMaster Forest has recorded 16 mammal species on the property, but the actual number of species is likely higher.
Some of the other species found on the property include:
- Beaver (Castor canadensis)
- Coyote (Canis latrans)
- White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
- Woodland Jumping Mouse (Napaeozapus insignis)
- Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus)
- Star-Nosed Mole (Condylura cristata)
Please keep dogs on leash and stay on trail when visiting the property to help protect these wonderful species.
Photo: White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
McMASTER FOREST ECOLOGICAL ZONES
Ecological zones (ecosites) are defined areas in a landscape that have specific plant and animal communities and environmental conditions. McMaster Forest is home to 17 different ecosites (as of the 2011 survey), which helps to maintain the high species diversity, and environmental health of the property. While hiking on the trails, see if you can distinguish each zone!
Old Growth Forest
Old growth forests are areas of intact forest that have never seen logging. Old growth Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), and Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) on the property are some of the largest and tallest recorded in the province.
Deciduous Forest
Some characteristic species found in deciduous forests include Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana), American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), and Musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana).
Mixed Forest
Some characteristic species found in mixed forests include Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), and Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus).
Shrub Thicket
Some characteristic species found in shrub thickets include Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.), Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa), Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis), and American Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis).
Woodland/Savanna
Some characteristic species in woodlands include a canopy of Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Butternut (Juglans cinerea), and Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina), with an understory of forbs and graminoids. Woodlands are characterized by 35 – 60% canopy cover and savannas are characterized by 25 – 35% canopy cover.
Tallgrass Prairie
Some characteristic species found in tallgrass prairies include Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardi), Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), and Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa).
Graminoid Meadow
Some characteristic species found in graminoid meadows include Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata), Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota), Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea).
Forb Meadow
Some characteristic species found in forb meadows include Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), Grass-leaved Goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus), and Common St. Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum).
Mineral Marsh Meadow
Some characteristic species found in the mineral marsh meadow include Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata), Elecampane (Inula helenium), American Cornmint (Mentha canadensis), Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), and Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota).
Research
McMaster Forest provides endless research opportunities. Primary researchers include students and professors from the McMaster Department of Biology, and members of The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club.
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Each year, McMaster Forest is the site of several undergraduate and graduate research projects. Past and current projects include; a natural selection study of garlic mustard, a tracing of the history of the land, a study of hawthorn on the property, bee monitoring, and more.
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Ongoing Research Projects
Smithsonian Dynamic Tree Plot
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In 2013, a team from McMasters Department of Biology led by Dr. Susan Dudley and Dr. Chad Harvey, established a Smithsonian Dynamic Tree Plot to measure forest health over time.
The teams of students and volunteers used equipment generously lent by Civil Engineering to precisely impose a grid onto the property. The grid is a 500m X 400m square, with stakes every 20m (to create 20m x 20m quadrats).
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By identifying, locating, and measuring every tree in the forest, the team was able to establish a baseline and track how the forest changes over time. This data can be used to better understand invasive species, species at risk, forest growth, and the local effects of climate change.
Over 22, 000 trees have been surveyed to date.
Bird Audio Recorders
As part of their bird study projects, The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, has multiple bird audio recorders placed around the property. The bird audio recorders serve to record bird species diversity and presence on the property.
Bobolink and Meadowlark Solar Panel Audio Playback
In the tallgrass prairie and adjacent old field meadow, there are two sets of solar panel powered audio playback devices that play the calls of Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark.
Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark are two threatened species at risk ground nesting grassland birds. The project is led by Dr. Jim Quinn, from McMaster’s Department of Biology and aims to encourage Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark to nest at McMaster Forests grasslands.
Deer Exclosure Fencing
Undergraduate and graduate researchers from Dr. Susan Dudley’s lab, from McMasters Biology Department are conducting a study on the effects of deer browsing on sapling growth in forests. Several deer exclosure fences are set up in the forest in an effort to monitor and compare sapling growth with and without deer browsing.
Blue Bird Boxes
Within the tallgrass prairie and adjacent old field, you may spot several blue bird boxes. This is a project led by The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, and helps to encourage blue birds to nest on the property. Most blue bird hatchlings are tagged and nesting pairs are recorded and monitored. There are currently 7 sets of two blue bird boxes located in the area.
Bee Monitoring
It’s a buzzin’! Each year since 2014 undergraduate and graduate students from Dr. Susan Dudley’s lab, from McMasters Biology Department survey the bee populations at McMaster Forest using a variety of methods, including pan traps, vane traps, and sweep netting. This project is expanding the current bee research in Hamilton and Ontario.
Tree Swallow Toxicology & Climate Change
25 tree swallow boxes were installed by the lab of Dr. Emily Choy in the tallgrass prairie to research the interactive effects of climate change and contaminants in tree swallows. These boxes act as a “clean” reference colony to those in Hamilton Harbour near wastewater treatment plants.
Snake Cover Board Study
Weekly surveys over the summer and early fall are conducted by Nature at McMaster staff as part of a joint collaboration with Ontario Nature’s Long-Term Monitoring Protocol for snakes. Four species have been recorded to date, including Eastern Gartersnake, Eastern Milksnake, Dekay’s Brownsnake, and Northern Red-bellied Snake.
Research Works
Effects of Deer Browsing on Soil Nutrients and Regeneration Dynamics in a Carolinian Old-Growth Forest of Ontario Learn More
Published Paper
Don, S. K., Anyomi, K. A., & Dudley, S. A. (2024). Effects of Deer Browsing on Soil Nutrients and Regeneration Dynamics in a Carolinian Old-Growth Forest of Ontario. Sustainability, 16(23), 10589. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310589
First Canadian bee species records (Hymenoptera: Apiformes) collected from tallgrass prairie and oak savanna in southern Ontario, Canada Learn More
Published Paper
Sharkey, J.K., Paiero, S.M., & Raine, N.E. (2024). First Canadian bee species records (Hymenoptera: Apiformes) collected from tallgrass prairie and oak savanna in southern Ontario, Canada. Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario, 155: 1-16. https://journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/eso/article/view/7841
The native snail shell–nesting bee Osmia conjuncta exploits a local abundance of exotic Cepaea snails, choosing empty shells by size, colour, and microhabitat Learn More
Published Paper
Fanaki, I., Irazuzta, S., & Dudley, S.A. (2023). The native snail shell–nesting bee Osmia conjuncta (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) exploits a local abundance of exotic Cepaea snails (Stylommatophora: Helicidae), choosing empty shells by size, colour, and microhabitat. The Canadian Entomologist, 155, E22. doi:10.4039/tce.2023.10
Temporal and Landscape Influences on the Bee Community Assemblage of the McMaster Research and Conservation Corridor Learn More
Masters of Science Thesis
Stegman, N. (2023). Temporal and Landscape Influences on the Bee Community Assemblage of the McMaster Research and Conservation Corridor (Unpublished master’s thesis). McMaster University. http://hdl.handle.net/11375/28274
The McMaster Forest Learn More
White Paper
Graziano, N., Baetz, B., & Terryberry, W., The McMaster Forest (2020). Hamilton, Ontario; McMaster University.
Effects of white-tailed deer and invasive garlic mustard on native tree seedlings in an urban forest Learn More
Masters of Science Thesis
Barker, J. (2018). Effects of white-tailed deer and invasive garlic mustard on native tree seedlings in an urban forest (Unpublished master’s thesis). McMaster University. http://hdl.handle.net/11375/24171
Emerald Ash Borer Incidence and Infestation at McMaster Forest Teaching and Research Facility Learn more
Published Paper
Simone, K. (2017). Emerald Ash Borer Incidence and Infestation at McMaster Forest Teaching and Research Facility. The iScientist, 2(1).
Variation in tree and shrub diversity across space, along environmental gradients and through time in a temperate forest in eastern North America Learn More
Masters of Science Thesis
Munoz, S. (2016). Variation in tree and shrub diversity across space, along environmental gradients and through time in a temperate forest in eastern North America (Unpublished master’s thesis). McMaster University. http://hdl.handle.net/11375/19437
Ancaster Creek Biomonitoring Learn More
Poster
Stegman, N., Law, T., & Rayner, E. (2016). Ancaster Creek Biomonitoring. Hamilton, Ontario; Department of Biology, McMaster University.
McMaster Forest Birding Report Learn More
Report
Porter, R. (2015). McMaster Forest Birding Report (Rep.).
Ancaster Creek Monitoring Learn More
Poster
Takahashi, M., Peters, J., Kent, V., & Stegman, N. (2015). Ancaster Creek Monitoring. Hamilton, Ontario; Department of Biology, McMaster University.
Projects, Teaching, & Outreach
Ongoing
Goats at McMaster Forest Learn More
Several times a year, cashmere goats pay a visit to McMaster Forest to do a little gardening! The hungry goats snack on invasive species such as European Buckthorn, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Cow Vetch, and Briar Rose.
Guided Hike Series
The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and Nature at McMaster regularly host guided interpretive hikes through McMaster Forest. The hikes vary in theme and often include experts on the flora and fauna of the property.
Seed Collection Workshops
The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club in partnership with the Ontario Plant Restoration Alliance host Prairie Seed Collection Workshops at McMaster Forest. The workshops are led by experts who ensure that the seeds are collected in an ecological and sustainable manner. The native prairie seeds are used for future restoration projects.
Stewardship Days
Stewardship days are frequently organized to help maintain the beauty of McMaster Forest. Dedicated teams of volunteers have worked on projects such as invasive species clearings, planting of native species, garbage cleanups, and trail maintenance.
Undergraduate & Graduate Courses Learn More
A variety of undergraduate and graduate courses use McMaster Forest for teaching and research. These courses are offered through the Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Engineering.
Completed
En Plein Air
In the fall of 2013, visiting artist Jim Reid led a group of artists onto the property for drawing and painting sessions. The fruits of their work were displayed by the McMaster Museum of Art in Togo Salmon Hall at the end of September.
Buckthorn Removal
Rhamnus Cathartica, or Common Buckthorn, is an invasive species of tree that had taken over the front of the property. About a square kilometre of former farmland and grassland has been transformed into a monoculture of buckthorn. Buckthorn is allelopathic, meaning its roots exude chemicals which harm other plants. This makes it a formidable competitor. A team of biologists, students, and volunteers worked to remove the buckthorn and re-introduce native grasses, to create the beautiful tallgrass prairie habitat that we see today.
Tallgrass Prairie Creation
Following the removal of the Common Buckthorn from the front of the property, the team of biologists, students, and volunteers seeded the area with native tallgrass prairie seeds. The habitat creation was very successful and today the front of the property is home to one of the few remaining tallgrass prairie habitats in Ontario! You can find beautiful native prairie plants such as Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Big Blue Stem (Andropogon gerardii), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), and many more!
Prescribed burns take place in the prairie on a three year cycle to help keep invasive species in check and provide much needed nutrients to the prairie vegetation. Click here to learn more.
In the News
Information Box Group
McMaster News ➚
Bird observatory taking flight at McMaster Forest Nature Preserve
Local Areas Updates, Local Natural Areas, McMaster Forest, Nature Stories
Meet Our Bioblitz Experts!
McMaster Forest, Nature Stories
Celebrate Bioblitz Week 2025 with Nature at McMaster!
Education, Local Natural Areas, McMaster Forest, Nature Stories
Hamilton Spectator ➚
Controlled burn planned Tuesday at McMaster Forest Nature Preserve
Local Natural Areas, McMaster Forest, Nature Stories
Brighter World ➚
Shell game: Uncommon wild bee thrives by nesting in old snail shells
McMaster Forest, Nature Stories
Daily News ➚
Earth Day tree planting marks new phase for McMaster Carbon Sink Forest
McMaster Forest, Nature Stories
Daily News ➚
Parks Canada supports protecting natural lands surrounding McMaster University
McMaster Forest, Nature Stories
Daily News ➚
Students and volunteers expand McMaster Carbon Sink Forest
McMaster Forest, Nature Stories
Hamilton Spectator ➚
Roam, chew, charm, repeat: Goats chew out invasive species in McMaster Forest
McMaster Forest
The Silhouette ➚
McMaster looking to create conservation corridor after generous grants
McMaster Forest
Daily News ➚
The buckthorn stops here: Biologists restore, open sensitive property with new grant
McMaster Forest
Weston Foundation ➚
Biologists restore, catalogue and open access to sensitive property with Weston Foundation grant
McMaster Forest
McMaster Research and Conservation Corridor
McMaster Research and Conservation Corridor
The McMaster Research and Conservation Corridor is an ecological link between the Dundas Valley and Cootes Paradise, measuring approximately 1180 acres. Starting from the area around Sherman Falls and continuing all the way until Cootes Drive and McMaster University. The conservation corridor eco-link gets its name from McMaster University’s connection to the land within the corridors borders. Almost half the land, 556 acres (47.1%), found within the ecological corridor is either currently owned by McMaster University or was previously owned by McMaster. Currently, 668 acres (56.6%) of the land within the ecological corridor is protected in some way; through ownership by McMaster University 375 acres (31.8%) or the Hamilton Conservation Authority 293 acres (24.8%).
The McMaster Research and Conservation Corridor is made up of both land and creek connections (two major tributaries being, Ancaster Creek and Sulphur Springs Creek), with only 4 ecological barriers being present along the corridor. All four ecological barriers are roads and include Old Ancaster Road, Lower Lions Club Road, Osler Drive, and Cootes Drive. Other negative ecological impacts on the corridor include invasive species, land encroachment and dumping, water quality impairments, and watercourse obstructions to fish movement. There is currently residential development and roads bordering almost the entire perimeter of the corridor, which poses issues to animal migration/movement.
Partners include McMaster University, the Hamilton Conservation Authority, the City of Hamilton, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, and private landowners within and adjacent to the corridor.
The Corridor represents the land from Sherman Falls to Cootes Paradise along the Ancaster Creek Valley. The purpose of the project is to conserve this high biodiversity area, maintain and enhance ecological connections, and enhance environmental research opportunities and studies on a wide range of topics.
The ecological corridor is part of the Spencer Creek Watershed: Ancaster Creek Subwatershed: Lower Valley and Lower Ancaster Creek Catchment Areas.
McMaster Carbon Sink Forest
McMaster Carbon Sink Forest
What is the McMaster Carbon Sink Forest?
The McMaster Carbon Sink Forest is a “model forest”, meant to replicate a natural Carolinian forest ecosystem. It is located on a one-hectare plot next to McMaster Forest in West Hamilton. The McMaster Carbon Sink Forest is now home to approximately 1000 individual trees, representing 20 (planted) & 5 (spontaneous) native and climate-resilient species. This “model forest” will provide many research opportunities, allowing researchers to track the growth of trees and the development of the forest ecosystem over time. Future projects will measure how much carbon a diverse selection of native tree species absorb as they grow. Additionally, this forest ecosystem will support biodiversity and conservation in Hamilton, as it provides more healthy habitat for native species in the McMaster Forest area.
Planting at the McMaster Carbon Sink Forest began on November 6, 2021, when volunteers planted 250 trees. Further plantings occurred on April 22, 2022, November 5, 2022, and April 22, 2023. Planting was concluded by staff and volunteers over Fall of 2023.
While planting at the McMaster Carbon Sink Forest has concluded, there is still lots to be done. Staff will continue to ensure the health and survival of the trees as they grow. Additionally, there are on-going construction projects to build research infrastructure on-site. This infrastructure will allow McMaster students and faculty to gain important data about the carbon fixing potential of our biodiverse forest ecosystems. This includes the construction of an eddy covariance flux tower, which will provide data on the amounts of carbon, water, and solar radiation being absorbed, released, and reflected by the McMaster Carbon Sink Forest. Nature at McMaster continues to collaborate with the McMaster Centre for Climate Change on research at the McMaster Carbon Sink Forest.
(Derived from the McMaster Centre for Climate Change website)
What is a Carbon Sink?
Carbon sinks are natural areas that absorb more carbon than they release. Ecosystems absorb and release carbon through a variety of pathways and in a variety of forms. Forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis as plants grow and use that carbon to produce leaves, roots, and stems. Plants are also a source of carbon, as they release carbon dioxide to the atmosphere during cellular respiration. However, most living plants absorb more carbon than they release. When animals and fungi feed on plants, they also store some of the carbon contained in plant matter in their own bodies. Forests also store carbon as organic matter in the soil, and release carbon to the atmosphere through processes like decomposition and fire. Thus, carbon circulates between the atmosphere, organisms, and other carbon reservoirs like fossil fuels and oceans in a global Carbon Cycle. Any ecosystem that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases to the atmosphere over a long period of time is called a carbon sink. Most healthy forests are carbon sinks, and so protecting and planting forests can help mitigate climate change by directly removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
What’s Growing at the McMaster Carbon Sink Forest?
The McMaster Carbon Sink Forest is home to 25 native species of trees. Click on each species to learn more!
Information Box Group
Collaborators & Landowner Appreciation
This project is in collaboration with McMaster and community organizations, including:
- Nature at McMaster
- Trees for Hamilton
- McMaster Centre for Climate Change
- McMaster Academic Sustainability Programs Office
Nature at McMaster would like to thank and acknowledge Mark Tamminga and Bill Walker for their help and assistance with this project. Their generosity in allowing their property to be used for the development of a carbon sink forest and research is greatly appreciated by McMaster University.
Additional funding and support for this project was provided by:
- Trees for Life Canada
- Parks Canada’s National Program for Ecological Corridors
- McMaster Office of Sustainability
- McMaster Grounds
- McMaster Office of the President
- McMaster Hydrometeorology & Climatology Group