Geology | Fresh Water | Soils | Plants | Animals Cultural Environment | Sites of Interest | Topics & Habitats

Geology and Landscape Development
These "red" drumlins are composed of materials carried into the area from at least 30 km to the north. In some instances, the reddish Carboniferous rocks have been carried at least 60 km and probably further. These distinctive red tills form prominent drumlins up to 25 m high. Occasional slaty till drumlins derived from local material are found among the red drumlins (see Figure 14).

Two reddish tills have been distinguished: the clayey Hartlen Till and the sandier Lawrencetown Till. Most drumlins have a core of Hartlen Till and a mantle of Lawrencetown Till. This drumlin field reaches the coast in Unit 832.

Fresh Water
There are many medium to large irregularly shaped lakes in this Unit. Scattered wetlands are associated with the many rapidly flowing shallow watercourses. Swamp and peat areas are more common towards the coast where there is less relief. Conductivity ranges between 23.5 and 33.5 micromhos/cm and pH averages 7.1, although it has been recorded as low as 5.1 in the LaHave River.

Soils
Drumlins in this Unit are mantled in reddish-brown Wolfville soils, well -drained loams over sandy, clay loams containing Carboniferous material. Soils between the drumlins are mostly Bridgewater sandy loams derived from slate, with poorly drained Riverport soil on flat land.

Plants
This Unit, together with Unit 433, Kejimkujik Drumlins, falls within Loucks' Sugar Maple-Hemlock, Pine Zone, in which shade-tolerant hardwoods are found on a wide range of sites. This is due to the Unit's position in a bowl-shaped depression, with a distinct local climate: relatively low rainfall and relatively high summer temperatures. The old forest for much of the Unit is American Beech, Sugar Maple, and Red Oak, but extensive disturbance by fire and cutting has resulted in large areas of mixed forest: Red Spruce, White Pine, Eastern Hemlock, and Balsam Fir. The heavier Wolfville soils on the drumlins result in less White Pine, more Red Spruce, and few pure hardwood stands. Regeneration on drumlin tops is predominantly spruce and Balsam Fir. If left alone, Balsam Fir is replaced by other tree species after about 30 years.

Animals
A distinct relict fauna is supported in this Unit by a warmer climate. Blanding's Turtle, Northern Ribbon Snake and the Southern Flying Squirrel can be found here. Reptiles and amphibians are found in great numbers and exhibit considerable species diversity. Small-mammal diversity within the Atlantic Interior Region is probably highest in this Unit. Deer are common, as are perch, White Sucker, Lake Chub, Brown Bullhead and Golden Shiner.

Cultural Environment
This area was settled in the eighteenth century by Germans who quickly cleared forested drumlins to establish prosperous farms. Farmers made use of the woodlands, recognizing the different qualities of specific tree species. Much of the timber cut in the area supplied the shipbuilding industry in Lunenburg. Many of the drumlin tops have been cleared for agriculture and are still farmed today. The vigour of regenerating Balsam Fir on abandoned drumlin farms has resulted in the establishment of the Christmas tree-growing industry in this and adjacent Unit 433.

Sites of Special Interest

• Ross Farm Museum - the story of pioneer farming traditions

Provincial Parks and Park Reserves

• Pinehurst
• Wentzells Lake
• Maitland

Proposed Parks and Protected Areas System includes Natural Landscape 15.

Associated Topics T2-2 The Avalon and Meguma Zones T3-4 Terrestrial Glacial Deposits and Landscape Features T11.3 Open-habitat Birds T11.10 Ungulates T11.15 Amphibians and Reptiles T11.18 Rare and Endangered Animals T12.2 Cultural Landscapes T12.8 Fresh Water and Resources T12.10 Plants and Resources

Associated Habitats H3.2 H3.4 H3.6 Freshwater Lentic H5.2 Oldfield H6.1 Hardwood Forest (Maple, Oak, Birch Association) H6.2 Softwood Forest (Pine Association)