Friends of the Coves buoyed by land deal.

London Free Press August 24, 2008

FLOOD PLAIN: Area is home to deer, owls and bald eagles

By JOE BELANGER

News of a $204,000 land deal promising unfettered public access to London's East Cove Pond wins plaudits from nearby residents like Alexandra Ellis-Baron, above, and the citizen's group Friends of the Coves. It's Alexandra Ellis-Baron's little piece of heaven. And yesterday, as she strolled the path that follows the shoreline of London's East Cove Pond, Ellis-Baron smiled when told the city has cut a deal to buy the four-hectare flood plain. "That's fantastic," said Ellis-Baron, a basket of wild grapes on her arm and wild garlic in her pocket. "If they're going to prot-ect this area, I'm delighted." The Friends of the Coves met at London Public Library's Landon branch in Wortley Village yesterday for their annual meeting to get details of the land deal and talk a little about the future for what's been widely described as an environmental gem. Under the deal, the city will pay Scarborough-based Chata Holdings Ltd. $204,000 to gain control of most of the east shore south of Springbank Drive, just west of Orchard Street. And that means unfettered public access to the pond that, until a few years ago, was surrounded by private property. "What we hope is that the property will become a major gateway access to the Coves," said Thom McClenaghan, president of the group. "Nothing is cast in bronze. What we're looking for now are ideas of what might be there." The land the city is buying was once the summer home of London Life founder Joseph Jeffrey's family. The land is home to deer, turtles, bald eagles and owls. The property contains a small wetland, a wet meadow and a wooded slope and lowland area featuring a pure stand of black walnut trees considered rare in the province. Ellis-Baron has lived on Orchard Street across from the East Pond for 11 years. And she knows most of the plants, their potential uses and locations, pointing to an asparagus plant, wild oats and wild wheat as she walked and talked. "I was scared this land was going to be developed," she said. "For our neighbourhood, especially our children, this is it. There's no other place for our children to play. It's a treasure."