LONDON, Ohio – The 67-acre Gwynne Conservation Area on the grounds of the Farm Science Review is actually used year-round for educational programs conducted by local and state agencies as well as other natural resource related organizations.

The premier event at the Gwynne, however, takes place during Farm Science Review, when more than 4,000 visitors explore the displays, demonstrations, programs and activities on the Gwynne grounds. These areas house displays and a wealth of information on forestry, wildlife, grasslands, aquatics, watersheds and soils. Experts will be on hand to answer questions.

“There’s a variety of habitats, ecosystems and appropriate conservation and resource management practices to see,” said Garrett Nowak, Farm Science Review site manager.

Shuttles bring Farm Science Review visitors to the Conservation Area on their way to and from the field demonstrations, running each day from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the end of Friday Ave.

Experts from across Ohio will present scheduled programs on a wide variety of natural resources topics.

Discussions at the Forage & Grazing Amphitheatre will include grazing management, how to control multiflora rose and autumn olive, how to establish and use farm season annuals and perennials, grassland ecosystems, precision ag and conservation, the spotted lanternfly update, how to better manage pastures and improve soil healthy and tips on stockpiling forage for the winter.

Experts will discuss how to attract beneficial insects to the property, native plants for the ornamental landscape, shrubs for your landscape and ornamental grasses for the garden. Attendees can learn about perennials for pollinators and home garden vegetable trials.

Head to the Cabin where you can learn all about the pawpaw. With the popularity of this fruit on the rise, nearly four hours of talks will be held discussing this popular fruit. Experts will discuss how to get started growing pawpaws, all that entails with pawpaw marketing, and even offer a pawpaw pulp processing demo, as well as some pawpaw ice cream for tasting.

Other topics at the Cabin include using fire to manage woodlots and wildlife, grazing management plans, raising game birds, wetlands for water quality and impacts of climate change on woodlands and wildlife. A talk from the Ohio Wildlife Services will teach visitors about avian influenza.

In the wildlife and aquatics area, visitors can learn about the tick issue in Ohio and surrounding states, an introduction to fly fishing and fly casting, learn how to identify Ohio snakes, manage deer in your woodlands, the best fish species for stocking your pond, basic pond aeration techniques and how to support bees with nectar and pollen. The Ohio EPA will offer biological and water quality monitoring discussions, as well as a live electrofishing demonstration.

In the woodland portion of this conservation area, visitors can learn about tree identifications, how to attract wildlife to the property, learn about invasive insects, the benefits of butterflies and how to attract them, invasive plant species, woodland fungi, Ohio’s coyote research and how to cultivate mushrooms.