Tall Grass Prairie more than just Tall Grass
Manitoba’s Tall Grass Prairie Preserve will be hosting its annual Prairie Day event on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the Prairie Shore Interpretive Trail, located 3 kilometres east of Tolstoi on Provincial Road 209.
Special presentations will highlight orchids of the tall grass prairie, rare plant surveys and the Conservation Data Centre, butterflies and other prairie insects as well as various creative uses for native plants. Volunteers from Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre will be present along with a couple of their animal ambassadors.
Join an entomologist on a bug hunt to see the smaller creatures that make their home in this special prairie ecosystem. Take in a guided walk and learn about the diversity of wildflowers or enjoy fresh bannock baked over an open fire. Children in attendance will be treated to face painting, a scavenger hunt and other fun activities.
Admission Information
Admission for the day is $5.00 per adult and no charge for children. Activities will begin at 10:00 a.m. and wrap up at 4:00 p.m. There is an on-site canteen that will be open from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. A barbecue lunch with hot dogs and hamburgers will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – please note, only cash is accepted at this event. Picnic tables and rustic washrooms are also available on-site.
Please bring a lawn chair or blanket, sunscreen and insect repellent. Trail conditions may be wet so rubber boots or a change of footwear is suggested. All Prairie Day activities will take place rain or shine.
For more information on this event, please contact Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve staff at (204) 425-3229 or tgpphq@mymts.net.
Background Information
The establishment of the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve in 1989 secured some of the largest and highest quality parcels of tall grass prairie remaining in the province. Shortly after securement by Nature Manitoba (formerly Manitoba Naturalist Society) or Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, seasonal staff began inventory efforts to document the various floral and faunal species occurring on these acquisitions. With the addition of the Nature Conservancy of Canada to the Preserve partnership, the Preserve has grown in size to nearly 5,000 hectares. The list of species identified on the Preserve has also increased. To date, over 900 species have been documented for the area, several of which are considered rare and have been listed under the federal Species At Risk Act (SARA) and/or the Manitoba Endangered Species Act (MB-ESA). The Preserve also provides habitat for many provincially rare species, some of which have very limited distributions.