The shoreline from Guildwood and Grey Abbey Beach to East Point Park represents the longest, unaltered natural shoreline in the Toronto region. This is a remarkable beach with a true coastal feel yet unfortunately there are plans that may destroy it.

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The natural sand beach begins along an area adjacent to Guildwood Park and continues east towards the mouth of Highland Creek. Over 3 km in length, a return walk along the beach can take over 2 hours. It is a stunning walk along side the sound of rolling waves with the most notable attribute of the shoreline being the bluffs that run the entire length of the beach

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The area is also comprised of other unique features. The undeveloped land along the table of the bluffs is 55 ha of mixed habitat including marsh, meadow, fields and forest. The area has a number of important designations as recognized by the City of Toronto and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority:

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• Heritage Shoreline

• Environmentally Significant Area (ESA)

• Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI)

• Bird Sanctuary

• Flyway for migrating birds 

 

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This important green space is part of a larger natural corridor that links natural spaces along rivers and ravines away from the lake and along side the lake. These corridors are needed for maintaining a healthy wildlife population. It was noted many years ago by city planning documents that these are important areas to preserve rather than fragment and it's because of this that they continue to be such a healthy habitat for wildlife and for birds.

 

As a stopover location for migrating songbirds, the area is well populated by bank swallows with many nesting colonies along the entire length of the shore. The Bank Swallow is a threatened species that has faced rapid global decline of 90% in the last 35 years. They nest along the upper edges of the bluffs. As an aerial insectivore they rely on the healthy food supply of insects which are quite abundant along the shallow water and sand beach.

 

The area also has a rich biodiversity with one of the highest percentages of native plants in the Toronto region; over 55% native to the area. Other plants and vegetation in the area offer an interesting window into cultural history and provide a unique glimpse back in time. Some of the rare meadow plants can be traced back to the turn of the century when seeds would have been spread along the railway as plants were carried from the western prairies into Ontario. 

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One of the most remarkable features along the stretch of shoreline is Grey Abbey Ravine in the west section. The ravine is over 700 ft in length running north away from the lake and at it's widest and deepest area spans roughly 250 ft across with a drop as deep as 200 ft down. This ravine offers a unique look at the geology of the bluffs and a rare opportunity to witness the process of erosion. At certain times of year, most often in winter and early spring you can watch the clay literally break away before your eyes as the eastern side of the ravine warms up from the heat of the afternoon sun contributing to thawing of exposed clay. 

 

Let's work together to see this remarkable shoreline preserved. Conservation needs to be at the forefront of all planning. We should not allow for the destruction of this natural sand beach This shoreline is part of our environmental heritage and remaining in it's natural state will be a legacy for future generation.

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