Early explorers arriving at the western end of Lake Ontario described and documented tallgrass prairie and oak savannah communities at the Head of the Lake. There are estimates that almost 6,000ha (14,800ac) of tallgrass prairie and oak savannah once covered the Hamilton area.

Unfortunately today, after decades of habitat loss and pollution, less than one percent of Hamilton’s grasslands remain; the remaining prairies and oak savannahs located on Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) property are degraded from lack of natural fire disturbance and the introduction of invasive species. The RBG works to restore these unique ecosystems through prescribed burns and the planting and seeding of native species.