Description

The Lambton Clay Plain is a flat plain once covered by a glacial lake that built up deep layers of clay. Most of the remaining forests on this plain are small -- hence the importance of these two large, privately owned woodlots near the town of Brigden. Separated by a gravel road and a strip of cropland, the mature oak-hickory woods have a rich understory. There is also a small area of silver maple swamp forest on the Plum Creek floodplain. The woodlots serve as a headwater source for Beark Creek.

The 177-ha site is owned by 15 different landowners, 10 of whom have entered into Natural Heritage Stewardship Agreements, thus protecting 80% of the Plum Creek Upland Woodlots. One local landowner, whose house is right in the forest, had no idea that there were Southern Flying Squirrels, a rare species in Canada, in the area -- until one came down her chimney and ended up in her rec room (taken from the Carolinian Canada Signature Sites Guide by Lorraine Johnson 2005).

Vegetation

Two large upland woodlots separated by a gravel road and a strip of cropland comprise this site. Semi-open to closed oak-hickory woods (bur oak, white oak, swamp white oak, shagbark hickory) grow on bevelled till plain. Small amounts of silver maple swamp are present. The western woodlot serves as a headwater source for Bear Creek (Lindsay, 1984 in Eagles & Beechey, 1985).

Plum Creek #1 (Hoffman et al., 1979 in Eagles & Beechey, 1985):
This area is mainly flat, with moderate undulations occurring around Plum Creek. The creek itself and one of its tributaries divide this large forested area in a north to south direction. Communities include: oak-hickory climax (grass dominates understory); creek and floodplain.

Plum Creek #2 (Hoffman et al., 1979 in Eagles & Beechey, 1985):
Generally flat, this woodlot has some depressions where water collects temporarily. The undergrowth is quite diverse and very little deadfall or wind fall is present. Communities include mature oak-hickory climax with a small amount of silver maple swamp forest.

Landform

This site illustrates oak-hickory forest growing on an upland, bevelled till plain site typical of the Lambton clay plain. Most of the forests remaining on the Lambton Clay Plain are small (Lindsay, 1984 in Eagles & Beechey, 1985).

References

* Allen, G.M., P.F.J. Eagles and S.D. Price (eds.) 1990. Conserving Carolinian Canada: Conservation Biology in the Deciduous Forest Region. University of Waterloo Press, Waterloo. 346 pp.

* Eagles, P.F.J. and T.J. Beechey (eds.) 1985. Critical Unprotected Natural Areas in the Carolinian Life Zone of Canada. Final Report, Identification Subcommittee, Carolinian Canada. The Nature Conservancy of Canada, The Ontario Heritage Foundation and World Wildlife Fund (Canada). 400 pp.

* Hoffman, D. et al. 1979. Plum Creek #1 Survey. Pp. 103-104, in, Background Report No. 13 to the Lambton County Official Plan - Environmentally Sensitive Areas. Lambton County Planning Board. Funded by Ministry of Environment through Experience '79.

* Hoffman, D. et al. 1979. Plum Creek #2 Survey. Pp. 103,105, in, Background Report No. 13 to the Lambton County Official Plan - Environmentally Sensitive Areas. Lambton County Planning Board. Funded by Ministry of Environment through Experience '79.

* Lindsay, K.M. 1984. Life Science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest in Site District 7-2 West of the Haldimand Clay Plain: A Review and Assessment of Significant Natural Areas in Site District 7-2 West of the Haldimand Clay Plain. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Central Region, Richmond Hill, and Southwestern Region, London. SR OFER 8403. viii + 131 pp. + map.

© Natural Heritage Information Centre, 1998

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