Nature Talk: The Value of Native Trees

Don Scallen

The May meeting of the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists will feature a zoomed-in presentation by Don Scallen.  Don’s Nature Talk will celebrate the wonderful diversity of trees in southern Ontario and, soberly, the threats many of them face. Don will highlight the ecology, attributes and merits of various species of trees in urban and rural landscapes.

Don is a naturalist and writer in Halton Region.  He is fascinated by the natural history of plants and animals and their interactions with the environment. His heroes include Charles Darwin, Jane Goodall, and the venerable David Attenborough.  There is an Attenborough quote that resonates with Don: “It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”

Don writes frequently about nature for a respected regional magazine called “In The Hills” (https://www.inthehills.ca/author/don-scallen/).  In 2020, he published his first book, “Nature Where We Live”.   In 2025, he hopes to publish a book about spotted salamanders.  Don enjoys speaking to naturalist clubs, horticultural societies, and environmental groups about diverse nature-oriented topics.