Riverside Woods – Headwaters Nature Field Trip: 2023 December 2nd
Ron Jasiuk led a wonderful and wonder-filled field trip. The plan was to wander the trails of the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s recently acquired Riverside Woods Nature Preserve looking for and identifying plants, animals, fungi and anything else that would catch our the interest. The plan was thwarted by snow that completely blanketed the ground and transformed the late fall landscape into a snow covered wonderland. Two hours was not enough time to fully explore the preserve so we definitely need to return again.
Highlights:
- During the 2h, 5km walk our group of 10 passed through a very mature White Pine plantation, several meadows, a bottom-land hardwood forest, several White Cedar stands and a large hillside dominated by Equisetum (Horsetail).
- Our group included Headwaters Nature members and members of the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) and of the Mono Nordic Ski Club. There were lots of discussions about how our respective groups could make use of this area and support each other.
- Seeing the onsite native wildflower seed garden set up by the BTC. Seeds produced in this garden will be used to re-wild sections of the preserve.
- Learning about the interesting history of this property that was first purchased by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1946 to honour employees of the company that died during WW II.
Gary Hall from the BTC telling us about the acquisition and future plans for the preserve.
Gary is the Land Steward Co-ordinator and one of the Biodiversity leads for the Caledon Hills Club of the Bruce Trail Conservancy. Ron Jasiuk is the Land Stewared for the Caledon Hills Club of the Riverside Woods property.
Photo: Ian Darwin
One of the remnants indicating the presence of the Boy Scouts of Canada that owned the 200 acre property from 1957 to 2023. The property was purchased by the Bruce Trail Conservancy, and renamed Riverside Woods. (Scouts Canada last used this area in 2014.)
Photo: Ian Darwin
Traipsing through the very aesthetically appealing snowy hardwood forest.
Tracing our route through the preserve.
This map is in the parking lot off the 1st Line Mono.
Jane sets a new level of expectation for our field trips — homemade cookies as a reward for getting out there.
The silent woods are calling. What are you waiting for?
How to get there: map to Riverside Woods