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mama :2 a, 3?? Group braves rainto open used to'acquire 13 acres of the wet- land. The benefactors have their names posted on a sign unveiled at The miserable weather Saturday didn’t keep the 60 energetic people away from the opening ceremonies of the Kettle Creek Conservation Auâ€" thority’s (KCCA) Kirk-Cousins Man- agement Area. WE thority community relations coâ€"ordi- nator Kevin Montgomery said is used to explain the purpose and need of wetland conservation and recreation. “It was a super day. I think every~ one who went became better in- formed about wetland, not only the conservation of wetland, but the a r preciation of wetland .for birdwa - mg, hiking and seeing wildlife. " The tour encompassed visits to both rivate and authorityowned wetland in Elgin and surrounding counties. “It was quite a successful project and had a great response from the public," sai Mr. Montgomery. Trees were planted at the site to commemorate the contributions each donor made to the area. Although the entire area is managed by the KCCA, only 25 acres of the 100- acre wetland is owned by the author- ity, while 40 acres is owned by CFBL Radio and the rest b the London- Middlesex Separate School Board. Elgin MP Ken Monteith and MP? Marietta Roberts were on hand to of- fer congratulations for the coo tive effort of preserving the wet and. St. Thomas city council members previously offered regrets they couldn‘t attend. The tour began at 8 am. with coffee at the authority offices then a half hour later the group boarded two buses and set off for Kettle Creek Woods at Dalewood Conservation Area, Visitors walked around the area while member of the St. Thomas Field Naturalists, Bob Hubert, spoke about wildlife management activities on KCCA lands. The tour continued to Pitcher Plant Fen where Bill Stewart, also a St. Thomas Field Naturalist, outlined the importance of the privately-owned wetland and summarized his current research on dragon flies in Elgin County. Mr. Montgomery explained that a ten is “quite similar toa bog." Lake Whittaker Conservation Area was next where tourists received in- formation about the experimental aerator project and the KCCA man- agement of wetlands for conservation Plaques were handed out to rep- resentatives of the various private corporations, ublic agencies, pri- vate individua s and public groups who banded together to raiSe $32,000 for the KCCA‘s Conservation fund and recreation. At Hearn's Wetland, Carl and Mar- ion Hearn showed visitors the various conservation practices they've fol- lowed on their property. Mr. Hearn is the vice chairman of the KCCA. ’ .3 TREE PLANTING TIME â€" the ceremony. The event was art of the KCCA wetland tour whic conservation au- The last wetland visit was to Glan- worth Complex comprised of 11 sepa- rate wetlands consisting of 38.2 hec- tares. The tour ended with a luncheon at the KCCA officer Charles Cousins plants one of: ‘ the trees at the official opening of the Kettle Creek Con‘serv ‘ tron Fund’s Wetland Aquisition at the Kirk-Cousins Mana " ' ment Area, which is located south of London alon ‘ ' M Road. The trees were planted in rec trons of corporations andindivid‘uals like Mr Co ” wit: 1%. ognitio‘n of ,QD ml ca Hm. ' fiand management area