Oxford Stewardship Award nominees Susan and Joe Hampson

Susan and Joe Hampson – Still rebuilding after all these years

When Susan and Joe Hampson moved to their property 55 years ago, the land was barren without trees. The pair took it upon themselves to add trees back to the landscape, planting several thousand over the years around their pond, along their watercourse, as a block planting in the footprint of a former barn, and as windbreaks along the west and sound ends of their property. 

Susan and Joe were hit with a devastating setback in 1979 when an F-4 tornado ripped through their property while the couple was inside with their young children and friends. They watched the tornado up close as it tore through their living room, causing them to lose half of their home. 

Before the tornado, Joe and Susan planted 300 - 400 trees each year to create windbreaks and wooded areas on the property. Joe says the tornado uprooted several of those trees.  

“After the tornado in 1979, we had to start planting things again after we rebuilt the house and moved back in. It has been an ongoing process, trying to restore the property.”

Susan and Joe's recent efforts included working with Jake Watson from the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA). Utilizing funding from the Clean Water Program, the couple started working to underplant their former ash-dominated woodlot with ten different species to fill in gaps left by dead trees. The planting enhances the existing woodlot, improves windbreak capacity, and improves habitat within the woodlot. 

Susan says Jake also helped them install bushes behind the house to attract butterflies, birds, and rabbits.

“He was great to work with. I think he was thinking about it like if this was his property, this is what he would do, and he helped us attract more wildlife to the property.”

The Hampsons also worked on the stream at the north end of their property that had erosion issues from higher water flows, which undercut banks and toppled cedar trees. They underplanted the wooded area to help stabilize the creek, improve flood retention capacity, improve wildlife habitat, and diversify the plant community. Live stakes of pussy willow, red osier dogwood, sandbar willow, and slender willow were planted directly along the creek with 14 other species on the point bars. 

The two plantings help maintain sustainable wooded areas, benefit water quality and groundwater recharge, mitigate soil erosion, and help build landscape resilience to climate change. 

The Hampsons are thrilled with the progression and love seeing the wildlife that utilizes their wooded areas and constructed ponds. Joe says working with Jake from GRCA has been tremendous.

“He was amazing to work with. I highly recommend anyone with a project in mind to contact your local conservation authority. They were great to work with.” 

Susan notes they started this process to attract more ducks to their pond, add windbreaks, and enjoy more wildlife. She also takes pride in being good stewards of the land and thinking towards the future. 

“The cities and smaller places are expanding, and there is not going to be a lot of these areas left. I understand the need for more land, but there must be some control and some thinking about the future. Are you going to be able to go out and stop at a quiet pond and enjoy watching the birds, ducks, and other wildlife? We really must be thinking about this.”