Burlington Post

Astronaut Chris Hadfields nighttime photo of the head of Burlington Bay made a striking impression.

There was a blanket of light and a rectangle of darkness. It was a peaceful corner in the middle of all that light, said David Galbraith of the RBG. The perspective we get when looking back from space helps us understand how precious this is.

The Royal Botanical Gardens and other organizations are creating a large urban park in that dark area.

An information session for The Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System was held last night at West Plains United Church.

These areas are very rich in nature in the middle of an urban area, said Galbraith, the RBGs head of science.

An alliance of agencies share the goal of making sure that in 50 years, these lands are still here.

The eco-park includes nearly 1,900 hectares (4,700 acres) of natural lands, covering parts of Aldershot, Tyandaga and Hamilton.

It includes a portion of the Niagara Escarpment, plus lands and waters associated with the Cootes (also called Cootes) Paradise Marsh and Grindstone Creek.

Weve been working on this program since 2006. We were saying how can the agencies do a better job of taking care of the land, said Galbraith. We believe that growth can be accommodated and we can work so that nature and development can exist side by side.

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Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System a natural gem: experts