Bird Calls in the Coves

Even in the middle of downtown London, the Coves Environmentally Significant Area supports high levels of biodiversity. Local birders will be happy to know a 2011 survey listed 59 different species of breeding birds in the Coves, 30 of which are...

The Living Laboratory of the Coves

If you teach students in grades 4 through 7 or if you're just looking for some outdoor educational activities, the Living Laboratory of the Coves was made for you. Created by Heather Hawkins Jensen, a Masters of Environment and Sustainability...

Silver Creek Restoration

Silver Creek Restoration:The Silver Creek Restoration Plan was presented on May 25, 2018 at the Natural Channels Conference at University of Guelph. Friends of the Coves is working with Stantec Consulting Ltd. and the City of London on this project...

UTRCA's Watershed Report Cards

In 2001 and 2007, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority published The Upper Thames Watershed Report Cards to summarize environmental information for each of the 28 watersheds within the greater Upper Thames River watershed. The report cards...

Coves Spring Bird Count

On May 23, 2009 a group of Friends of the Coves Subwatershed birders went out on a mission to perform the first Coves Spring Bird Count. The group had been involved previously in the Annual Christmas Bird Count, a coordinated effort of hundreds of...

Coves Aquatic Monitoring

The Friends of the Coves Subwatershed have commissioned Upper Thames River Conservation Authority to undertake fish sampling (2006 and 2007) and water quality sampling (2006 and 2008) in the Coves. This water quality sampling was performed at more...

Christmas Bird Count

In 1900, American ornithologist Frank Chapman asked birders across North America to head out on Christmas Day to perform the first "Christmas Bird Census." His suggestion has evolved into one of the largest organized birding events in the world...

Pollution Solutions

What is surface runoff pollution? In a natural landscape, the ground has a dense cover of leaf litter and vegetation which acts as a sponge - absorbing and filtering most precipitation. When natural groundcover is removed, rainfall no longer soaks...

Native Plant Demonstration Gardens

Friends of the Coves have established 2 native plant demonstration gardens which are open to the public. Come stroll through one to get ideas of native plants that you might like to grow in your own garden. Swallowtail Grove East end of Greenway...

Go Green in Your Garden

Through this project we offer the following products and services: Green Garden Visits: This service is available to all members of Friends of the Coves Subwatershed living in the Coves Subwatershed. See a map of the Coves Subwatershed to see if...

Coves Clean-Up

The Coves Clean-Up is held annually on Earth Day weekend. Community volunteers gather at a common location to register and join up with one of several groups working on different projects within the Coves Subwatershed. From the meeting location,...

Coves Aquatic Rehabilitation Program (C.A.R.P)

Our goal is to improve water quality and rehabilitate the natural diversity of the Coves. We plan to achieve that through various projects around the Coves Subwatershed that improve and increase available habitat and protect water quality. The issue...

The Coves' Elmwood Gateway

Imagine driving along the commercial stretch of Wharncliffe Road S and catching a glimpse of green - what a welcome relief to the eye! The future site of The Coves' Elmwood Gateway is 7-acres of greenspace that will soon do just that; welcoming...

The Coves' East Pond Woods

After encouragement from Friends of the Coves Subwatershed Inc. (FOTCSI) and Old South Community Organization (OSCO), in August 2008 City Council voted to purchase a 3.9 hectare (9.66 acre) parcel of land adjacent to The Coves' East Pond. This land...

The Abandoned Valspar/Lilly/Paint Factory/Fruit Orchard

Perhaps the most well-known Cove property is the one that sits at it's heart at the end of Duke St. This property has been home to various different industries over the years, the last of which was a paint factory. About 30 hectares of the property...

Street & Boulevard Trees on public property

All trees on City property are protected under City by-law and are not to be trimmed, removed or harmed by the public. Likewise, trees cannot be planted on City property unless their location and species has been approved by the Forestry Group....

Greenway Park Gateway to the Coves

There are a few publicly accessible vistas into the Coves ponds since most of the shoreline of the Coves is privately owned. One exception to that is Greenway Park. Access the park just west of Wharncliffe Rd. on Springbank Dr. through the Thames...

Euston Park Naturalization

Euston Park is found south of the Coves ponds between Emery St., Wharncliffe Rd. S, Baseline Rd. W and Beachwood Ave. The wooded west end of the park is part of the Coves Environmentally Significant Area. Silver Creek flows north through those woods...

Coves Trails

The Coves Environmentally Significant Area has many trails to explore Find maps to the right under Project Resources Mowed Trails Gently graded, mowed grass trails maintained by the city Community Trails Not maintained or marked - USE AT YOUR OWN...

Coves Subwatershed Plan

In 2004, the Friends of the Coves Subwatershed released the Coves Subwatershed Plan. The plan factors in information gathered in past studies in the area as well as new research performed by professional consultants during the preparation of the...