Nature London upcoming events

Native Plant Exchange (11 Sep 2026)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Attention gardeners!

This native plant exchange will be in the lobby during the Indoor Meeting. This is inspired by our guest speaker Don Scallen's talk and generous donation of Carolinian trees as a fundraiser.

Please bring any native plants you would like to exchange, or donate to other gardeners. We will have a table in the lobby where you can drop them off.

Please make sure to label them with either a common and/or (preferably) a scientific name. Any unclaimed plants at the end of the evening will be donated to The Friends of the London Civic Garden Complex for inclusion in their Fall Plant Sale on September 19, 2026, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. If anyone is willing to help at the table prior to the talk and during break to accept donations (and provide growing advice), please contact Ruth Dickau at indoor.meetings@naturelondon.ca.

A Celebration of Trees - Don Scallen (11 Sep 2026)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Don will have copies of his books, Nature Where We Live and Spotted Salamanders and Their World, for sale.

He will be bringing some Carolinian trees (pawpaws, Kentucky coffee trees, and sycamores) for $10 with proceeds to Nature London.

A passionate look at trees, including those currently afflicted by various pathogens. But more positively, a celebration of the virtues of trees and an exploration of native trees suitable for the urban landscape.

Don Scallen is a writer and naturalist in Halton Region. He is fascinated by the natural history of plants and animals and their interactions with the environment. His heroes include Charles Darwin, Jane Goodall, and the venerable David Attenborough. Here’s an Attenborough quote that resonates with Don: "It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living."

Don writes frequently about nature for In The Hills https://www.inthehills.ca/author/don-scallen/. He has published two books: Nature Where We Live and Spotted Salamanders and Their World. Don enjoys speaking to naturalist clubs, horticultural societies, and environmental groups about diverse nature-oriented topics.

Photo: American Elm, Ulmus americana, Gananoque, Ontario

Kiwanis Park/Pottersburg Valley ESA (Members Only) (13 Sep 2026)

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

During this outing in southeast London, we will walk and look for late-summer plants and birds.

Wear shoes appropriate for walking on paved paths. Bring binoculars, a water bottle, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

Directions: Meet in the parking lot east of 1545 Trafalgar Street. Look for the Kiwanis Park sign.

Google Map

Cathy McCrae
cmcc@sympatico.ca

Together for Nature Afternoon Gathering (18 Sep 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

See Jennifer's invitation to participate and volunteer.

Ontario Nature: Together for Nature Tour (18 Sep 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Join Ontario Nature this September for the Together for Nature Tour, which is an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples to come together to raise our voices for nature and all our relations through story and song.

Ontario Nature and Legal Advocates for Nature’s Defence invite you to hear from Okiniwak, Here We Stand, and the Friends of the Attawapiskat River to amplify the voices of Indigenous youth and land protectors from Northern Ontario. Inuk singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark will join us on tour.

Purchase Tickets Here

Fall Plant Sale (19 Sep 2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Friends of the London Civic Garden Complex are holding their Fall Sale on Saturday, September 19, 10 am to 1 pm. Perennials, Native plants, House Plants, Compost, and Gardening-related items. If you can, bring your own containers (boxes, trays or wagons). Cash, cheque, or e-transfer.

Your support helps us reach our goal of donating to 22 London Non-Profit groups.

Donations are needed. NEW! DO NOT drop off plants and gardening items at the Greenhouse. DROP OFF AT: 505 Teeple Terrace (call or text 519-852-6670) or 279 Wortley Road (Call or text 519-200-9429). www.friendslcgc.com

Hawk Cliff, Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area, Port Stanley (Members Only) (26 Sep 2026)

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

On this outing to Elgin County, we will be looking for early fall birds and plants. We hope to see migrating raptors at Hawk Cliff and waterfowl at Yarmouth and Port Stanley. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited at Yarmouth.

We will be walking on uneven paths. There are stairs at the Port Stanley Sewage Lagoons. Bring a bagged lunch, binoculars, sunscreen, and a water bottle. Walking poles may help on the trails. For Yarmouth, the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority requests that each participant deposit $3.00 for property maintenance in the appropriate box on site.

Meet in the parking lot at Value Village, 4465 Wellington Road South.

Google Map

Cathy McCrae
cmcc@sympatico.ca

Fall at Westminster Ponds ESA (Members Only) (7 Oct 2026)

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:30:00 GMT

This outing will be focused on enjoying fall colours and looking for fall birds.

We will walk trails and boardwalks to view 2 or 3 of the ponds on the site. Wear sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots. There will be some hills. Bring binoculars, a water bottle, and walking poles, if appropriate.

Head south on Western Counties Road off Commissioners. Drive to the T-intersection and turn left. Park near the baseball diamond. This is east of the buildings that house TTLT, LEN, etc.

Google Map

Cathy McCrae

cmcc@sympatico.ca

The Western Ontario Fish and Game Protective Association Inc. (9 Oct 2026)

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Rivers, streams and ponds are essential supports for important elements of nature and species in the London Region. For more than 50 years, fishing clubs have nurtured aquatic habitats and advanced public appreciation of this important community resource. At the Nature London meeting on October 9 th, join Frank Colozza and Stan Gibbs of the Western Ontario Fish and Game Protective Association (OFGPA) to learn about their centre at Westminster Ponds and their work to improve aquatic habitats around London.

Frank is a member of OFGPA and a geoscientist who has spent his career studying groundwater beneath Ontario's landscapes. Stan Gibbs is the President of OFGPA

Frank Colozza

Frank Colozza has been a member of the Western Ontario Fish and Game Protective Association () since 2022, where he enjoys both spin cast and fly fishing on the club's pond. By profession, Frank is a geoscientist who has spent his career studying groundwater beneath Ontario's landscapes — knowledge that gives him a unique window into the natural forces that shaped the club's grounds.

Frank will present a look at the club’s natural setting. Drawing on his background in geology and hydrogeology (the study of groundwater), he'll explain why the club's pond exists where it does, how it was formed, and what it takes to keep its ecosystem healthy for the fish, plants, and wildlife that depend on it.

Stan Gibbs

Stan Gibbs joined the WOFGPA in1993 and was elected to the Executive Board in 1995 as Second Vice President. In 2000, he took over as President.

Fall at Kilally Meadows ESA (Members Only) (18 Oct 2026)

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 13:30:00 GMT

We will enjoy interesting sightings of the flora and fauna of mid-fall.

We will be walking on paved and uneven trails. Bring binoculars, a water bottle, and walking poles, if appropriate.

Meet at the east end of Windermere Road, at the Thames River.

Google Map

Cathy McCrae
cmcc@sympatico.ca

The physiology of ultra-endurance flight in migratory birds (30 Oct 2026)

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Some migratory birds are capable of flying non-stop for several days to over a week without food or water. This remarkable feat allows them to travel thousands of kilometers in one flight, but the physiological adaptations that make it possible are still mysterious. In this presentation, Dr. Guglielmo will discuss research being conducted by his lab and others to discover how they do it.

Dr. Chris Guglielmo is a Professor of Biology and the Director of the Centre for Animals on the Move at Western University. He is also a Co-Director of the Advanced Facility for Avian Research, where he and his students use a unique climatic bird wind tunnel to study endurance flight of wild migratory songbirds and shorebirds under different altitude, temperature, and humidity conditions. He has over 30 years of experience working with migratory birds and bats in the field and laboratory.

Fall Birding west of London (Members Only) (8 Nov 2026)

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

We will visit sewage lagoons in Strathroy and Forest, as well as sites along Lake Huron near Port Franks and Ipperwash to look for waterfowl and late fall birds.

Most of the walking will be on uneven ground. Some small hills will be encountered. Carpooling is encouraged. Dress warmly. Bring binoculars, snacks, a water bottle, and walking poles, if appropriate. We will stop at Tim Hortons or another restaurant for lunch.

Meet at the Tim Hortons at 1255 Fanshawe Park Road West, near Sunripe. It is a short distance east of Hyde Park Road.

Google Map

Cathy McCrae
cmcc@sympatico.ca

Awards Banquet and Guest Speakers (20 Nov 2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 22:30:00 GMT

The annual Nature London Awards Banquet will celebrate the stellar accomplishments of Nature London’s 2026 award recipients. It’s always a fun evening with social time, dinner, awards, a bucket raffle with nifty prizes and a lively presentation. Delicious dinner fare will once again be provided by Bruinink’s Catering.

The guest speakers are Christa Wise and Joseph Langlois, Interpretive Naturalists at The University of Guelph Arboretum. They will explore the “Naturalists' Calendar” of things they look forward to through the seasons. From spring birding and ephemeral flowers to catching dragonflies and finding galls, each season brings something new to be excited about. Join Christa and Jo to discover how you can start your own naturalist’s adventure!

The website will email you an invoice that describes your payment options.

For more details, click here.

The Lambeth Legion Hall is at 7097 Kilbourne Road, London, Ontario. It has ample parking and an accessible entrance.