Hired by the City of Toronto, a crew from Lands and Forests Consulting conduct a prescribed burn in High Park in Toronto.
A controlled burn is expected in Toronto's High Park Wednesday afternoon between 2:30 and 5 p.m.
The burn will remain low to the ground and consume dried leaves and debris in the park, leaving trees unharmed. Ross Bryant, media relations for the city's Parks, Forestry and Recreation division, says these burns are done to protect and sustain the city's rare black oak woodlands and savannahs.
The savannah environment in High Park responds positively to burns, removing levels of dried leaves and leaving ash to act as a natural fertilizer. A burn is also a way of removing non-native plants in the area.
Annual controlled burns are part of the city's long-term management plan to protect area parks. Wednesday's burn will be the 11th controlled burn in High Park.
Use of High Park will be restricted during the burn, and notices will be placed at entrances advising the public of what is happening. Other sections of the park will remain open during these times.