Response By
David & Winnie Wake
McIlwraith Field Naturalists of London Ontario, Inc. (today: Nature London) “Hug a Tree Today” Button, about 1983
various materials Gift of Judith and Wilson Rodger, 2018Response
Nature London (McIlwraith Field Naturalists) traces its roots to nature study organizations formed in 1864 and 1890. By the 1880s, members were promoting sustainable forestry.
In 1983, this button and others helped encourage the preservation of nature.
Native species, including trees, play essential roles in healthy ecosystems, while non-native species contribute little to natural food webs. Today, Nature London advocates for protection of London’s natural areas, including woodlands and the countless native species they sustain.
Hug a native tree today!
David and Winifred Wake are writers and avid environmentalists. Both have worked with and held multiple positions with non-profit organizations, including Winifred’s position as the Chimney Swift Liaison for Nature London, and David’s position as President of Thames Talbot Land Trust. Winifred has also written many works about Canadian nature, including A Nature Guide to Ontario.