Friends of Hampton Park

10/22/2025

Guided Walk in Hampton Park

Join us this Saturday October 25 from 10 am to noon in Hampton Park with our special guest, Owen Clarkin, President of the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club.

We'll stroll through the old growth forest, talk about tree health, some of the current and emerging threats, and some of the things we can do to protect our native species.

With the recent rains, some areas may be muddy. Waterproof shoes or boots are recommended.

Meet at the Nature Nook. Use 512 Island Park Drive as the address for search directions. All are welcome, but please leave the pups at home! Any questions, email: [email protected].

07/20/2025

If you are at Hampton Park and notice that the tap on the rain barrel is open, please close it. Someone left the tap open recently, and we weren't able to store any of the rainwater we just got a few days ago. Without a water tank on site, this is our only source to water any new plants. Please also DO NOT use this water for your dogs -- clean water from the fountain is right around the corner of the building.

Thank you!

06/23/2025

Many thanks to the National Capital Commission for the Muskoka chairs to complete the Alan Sunter Memorial in Hampton Park!

June 23, 2025Many thanks to for the Muskoka chairs to complete the Alan Sunter Memorial in Hampton Park!Take a seat and enjoy the ...

06/19/2025

UPDATE

Due to the extreme heat, we have cancelled our formal work sessions in Carlington on Sunday. If you can handle the heat, we would appreciate you beheading any dog strangling vine you come across! Check out this video to identify it and to see how it's done: Dog strangling vine control. It's not seeding, so any cut vegetation can be left on the ground.
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Highly invasive dog strangling vine (DSV) is flowering now and will very soon develop seed pods. This is the best time to cut it in order to slow its spread.

Sunday, June 22, 10 am to noon

Meet at the Clyde Bee & Butterfly Patch. Use 1111 Clyde Avenue South for search directions.

Gloves, pair of scissors or secateurs. Long pants/closed toed shoes recommended.

Check out this video shot in nearby Hampton Park on how to remove it: Cutting dog strangling vine. DSV can overcome any other plants nearby -- including trees and other invasive species. It also mimics common milkweed, fooling Monarch butterflies into laying their eggs on it. When the caterpillars emerge, they have nothing to eat.

For those already signed up for buckthorn control that day, you are off the hook for this! 😊

06/14/2025

"Jason" the Lucky Friday the 13th Racoon

Many thanks to Mesha and Patrick for rescuing a raccoon that got stuck in an empty dumpster in Carlington's business district and couldn't get back out.

The raccoon had been spotted on the 12th and, with no way for it to climb out, Friends sent out a mayday. A few late night maneuvers on the 13th, with the help of an impromptu ramp and some treats, and "Jason" was out of the bin in a flash and scurrying back to nicer digs.

Thanks to all those who offered to help on such short notice, and to the Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary for their advice! www.rideauwildlife.org

06/11/2025

Thanks to the Friends of Pinhey Sand Dunes for letting us transplant some of their woodland species for planting in Hampton Park. If you can help plant, meet at the Island Park entrance (512 Island Park Drive) at 7 pm, Friday June 13. Bring gloves and a spade if you have one. Wear long pants, closed-toed shoes (no sandals).

June 11, 2025Learn more about Ottawa's sand dune here: https://www.biodiversityconservancy.org/pinhey-sand-dunesWe gladly took up the offer of free native wo...

06/09/2025

Volunteers Needed: Hampton Park

For either or both events, please RSVP and meet at the Island Park entrance, 512 Island Park for search directions, a few minutes ahead of the times shown below. If you are late, look for us inside the wooded areas along the creek path.

1. Thursday June 12, 9 am to 12 noon for knotweed clearing

The National Capital Commission’s summer student team will once again be part of the effort to clear knotweed, but we can always use more hands. This is one species we’ll have to control for several years to come, so the more people we can train to spot & remove it, the better.

Gloves, long pants, closed toed shoes required as we will be working in areas with red ants. Bring a spade if you have one, but it’s not required. You may also wish to bring water, sunscreen and/or bug spray.

2. Friday June 13, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm for planting*

*If all plants don’t get put in on Friday night, we’ll schedule a time on Saturday or Sunday to finish off.

We have wildflowers grown by Nepean High School students that still need to be planted, plus we are receiving a donation of shade plants.

Gloves, long pants, closed toed shoes required. Bring a spade or trowel with you. Bug spray may be necessary. We sign for student hours!

Finally, a big thank you to everyone who has been clearing the garlic mustard and dog strangling vine! We have definitely noticed your efforts – keep up the great work! Dog strangling vine is the greater threat and can be found mainly in the back of the meadow area. If you wish to cut it on your own, scissors are your best friend! Check out this video to see exactly what the plant looks like and how it’s done:

Dog strangling vine (Vincetoxicum rossicum) is a plant native to southern Europe, and has become a menace throughout North America. It can smother plants -- ...

06/07/2025

If you're got time Sunday June 8 between 2 and 3:30 pm, please join us to help plant some wildflowers in the Hampton meadow. These plants were grown by Nepean High School students. Meet at the Buell entrance of Hampton Park at 2 pm. If you're late, we'll be in the open grassed area closer to Island Park. Bring gloves & a shovel if you have one!

06/06/2025

WALK IS STILL ON: Please use your own judgement about the AQ health advisory. You may wish to wear a mask.
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Join me this Friday night (June 6th) at 7:30 pm for an evening ramble through Hampton Park. Meet at the Island Park Drive entrance, 512 Island Park for directions. Wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. All ages welcome.

No set theme or schedule, we'll chat about whatever we happen upon, whether it be birds, mushrooms, plants, or insects. If we're lucky, we may see some bats later on.

The dragonflies have now emerged and although they do eat a lot of mosquitoes, you'll probably still want bug protection!

If you have any nature-themed books, bring those to add to the Nature Nook.

Cheers,
Sharon

06/06/2025

If anyone has information about a white pine that was planted earlier this week on the edge of one of Hampton's Japanese knotweed control colonies at the Buell entrance, please email [email protected]. This is the smaller pine, not the one near the head of the trail.

Although we applaud those who want to plant trees, this pine is in the wrong spot and will likely need to be moved as we will be working in that area later this summer, digging out knotweed root systems and planting native staghorn sumac. If you want to plant, plant with us!