Preserving & Enhancing Ecology

Many of the new landscape features in Southlands, such as the storm water retention lake, the community gardens, new tree rows, backyards and pocket parks will be designed with grasses, shrubs and trees that are suitable habitat for a variety of species.

Ditches integrated into the urban settlement areas of Southlands will be designed with natural banks containing grasses, sedges and shrubs to create productive habitat for birds, such as songbirds and adaptable waterfowl like Mallards, Wood Ducks and Wigeons.

This ditch habitat will also be suitable for amphibians like Tree Frogs as well as Muskrats, Voles and other small mammals. Plans minimize disturbance of the larger ditches and drainage canals on the periphery of the urban areas to ensure that the wildlife habitat that exists in and around these ditches and their adjoining hedgerows are protected.