Reclamation

Mining inevitably disturbs land and the wildlife around it. Modern mines reclaim the surface during and after mining is completed, returning the land to useful purposes. Note the differences in the pictures between how the land looks during mining and how it looks after mining.  The reclaimed mine lands are usually more attractive to wildlife and human uses than before mining started.  The Don Valley Brickworks mine disrupted not only the area that was extracted, but the creek that ran alongside the mine which was diverted for use to create bricks.

Here is a picture of the diverted creek, which now runs down into a system of ponds for purification, where it will eventually meet the Don River.

Here is a photo of one of the many ponds used for water purification. Here you can see the different plants and wild growth that were added to restore the land.

Here is a quick video on one part of the marsh/pond area.

Here is a picture of the entire Don Valley Brickworks reclaimed land. There are many different trees including the Tamarack, the only pine to shed its needles (hard to see--> look for orange trees on right). There are many different types of wild grasses and shrubs. The smokestack  and the City Skyline is visible in the background.