Don Valley Brick Works - Weston Family Quarry Garden

Weston Family Quarry Garden

The park section of the Brick Works, managed by the City of Toronto, includes a series of three ponds, a large meadow and a small forest. The ponds are fed by a diversion pipe running from Mud Creek which flows just to the west of the Brick Works. Initially, the area adjacent to the ponds was planted with species native to Ontario. This also included some species that are not locally native including Tulip Tree, Fragrant Sumac and Eastern Redbud. These Carolinian species, typically found farther south, are at the northern limit of their range in Toronto.

Once the wetlands became established, many species of birds have visited to forage or breed. Mammals, reptiles (including Blanding's turtle and snapping turtle), amphibians, and some fish have also found their way to the Brick Works and have established themselves. This includes ducks, Canada Geese, toads, muskrats, sparrows, and others.

The Brick Works wetland is connected to a number of other nature reserve areas via forest trail, and is part of a larger effort to reestablish the Don Valley watershed.

This area was the site of a number of important geological discoveries which provided information on the glacial history of southern Ontario.