Thank you to all at ON Nature magazine for an always informative and visually engaging publication. I read every issue from cover to cover.
I read Ian Coutts’ article, “The Dirt on Gardens” with some interest and concern. It might encourage others with naturalized gardens to learn that the City of London has recently updated its Yard and Lot Maintenance By-Law to provide clearer guidelines for gardens that support biodiversity, including pollinator, food and native plant gardens.
These changes were largely prompted by the work of Brendon Samuels, Chair of the city’s Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee. The approach was informed by the Bylaws for Biodiversity project of the Ecological Design Lab. The project (available at ecologicaldesignlab.ca/by-laws-for-biodiversity) provides free practical tools to support similar advocacy efforts in other jurisdictions.
After receiving an order to comply with the city’s yard maintenance by-law in 2023, Brendon set about to determine how to achieve compliance with the by-law. The concerns he and his committee raised about the existing by-law resulted in a “housekeeping” update of the by-law by city staff. The revised by-law was enacted in March 2024 and provides much-needed clarity for both property owners and people who wish to file a complaint. https://london.ca/yard-lot-maintenance-law.
According to the city website, the by-law requires property owners to keep their land safe for the public, appropriately store and remove refuse, remove and stop the growth of prohibited plants, and remove graffiti from buildings and structures, among other things. The city’s website emphasizes that the by-law is not intended to manage the aesthetics of gardens, especially where vegetative growth or a garden has been intentionally cultivated. The city’s Climate Emergency Action Plan encourages the planting and maintenance of diverse, resilient, native plant species and gardens to help slow the effects of climate change.
In addition, Brendon and his committee have made “Nature Lives Here” lawn signs available to the public. The signs are meant to educate and reduce conflict with neighbours who may object to the appearance of naturalized properties.
May other municipalities follow this example!
Susan Berry, Nature London
London, Ontario