“Ducks Unlimited Canada is a passionate community of people who believe that nature is the foundation of strong communities, a prosperous economy and a sustainable future that supports the hopes and dreams of the next generation. Together, we conserve and restore some of the most valuable and threatened landscapes on the planet.”
… DUC website
When it comes to restoring wetlands and forests, John Willetts of Southampton is passionate.
Willetts purchased a large tract of land on the North Bruce Peninsula where he set about planting some 4,000 white pine trees. “Next door to me is more than 1,000 acres (405 hectares) owned by the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy that provides opportunities for conservation,” says Willetts.
As he watched his vision grow, wildlife began to return. From the endangered Massassauga Rattler to bird species undergoing threat, Willetts is focussed on restoring the wetlands that they rely on.
In a recent story in DUC’s National publication, Willets explained. “I saw this property on the Bruce Peninsula, quite a distance north of Brampton, but it had been degraded and damaged too. The interior forest habitat had been lost, the streams and wetlands were broken. And I knew I could fix it. I had the technical knowledge from my years with the Brampton Environmental Advisory Committee and the Claireville Environmental Group. I could put the things back in place to restore the habitat.”
In his mission to help restore bird life, Willetts involved the local high school trades classes of students at Saugeen District Senior School (SDSS). The students, learning the carpentry trade and under teacher, Bud Halpin, constructed 60 bird houses for a wide variety of birds.
