Rose Beach will be getting a cleaning on the weekend.
The Sydenham Field Naturalists (SFN) are headed to the Lake Erie beach south of Morpeth on Saturday to host an Earth Day community clean up.
Partnering with the municipality and the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, the SFN hopes to bring the community together rain or shine to remove man-made garbage from local waterways and dune ecosystems.
The event, running from noon to 4 p.m., will kick off with a brief talk on dune ecology to underscore the importance of protecting these vital areas, officials said. Attendees will then split into groups to participate in the clean-up activities, with garbage bags and gloves provided.
Participants will have the opportunity to sign their names and emails to enter into a raffle, with prizes awarded at the end of the day.
The event is family-friendly, and attendees are encouraged to join in for any portion of the event duration.
“We’re thrilled to organize this community clean-up event in celebration of Earth Day,” said Ismay Earl, vice-president of SFN, in a media release. “It’s an opportunity for us to demonstrate the power of collective action and make a real impact on our local environment.”
Participants are urged to collect only man-made garbage, leaving stones, beach glass, etc. undisturbed to preserve the ecosystem.
For those unable to attend the beach clean up, alternative arrangements for participation in local clean-up efforts are encouraged.
For more information, contact Sherri-Anne Wills, SFN communications chair, at info@sydenhamfieldnaturalists.ca.
The locals know this is Terrace Beach, not Rose Beach. Early cottagers built terraces above the beach but below the road. The Rose family were among the original pioneer farm settlers in the area. When 911 was introduced and the municipality renamed the road Rose Beach Line, likely in recognition of the family, confusion over the name of the beach, particularly by visitors, began.