The Couchiching Conservancy is thrilled to share that one of the community’s favourite nature reserves has been protected over 20 years.
Thanks to donors, members, volunteers and staff, this 52-acre forest on Division Road West is a safe haven for species and also has four kilometres of trail available to the public. This mature upland forest has a towering canopy of maple, white ash, red oak and eastern hemlock.
The area is home to many species including scarlet tanagers, black-throated green warblers, broad-winged hawks and pileated woodpeckers.
The Grant family purchased the property in 1908, and in 2002 William Grant donated it to the conservancy in memory of his late brother, Jack. The deed to the land was transferred to the Couchiching Conservancy 20 years ago.
The former house on the property was extensively renovated to create the office of the Couchiching Conservancy. Thanks to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and a legacy gift from the estate of Bill Grant in 2015, the office and gazebo are fully accessible, the office is heated and cooled geothermally, and 50 per cent of our annual hydro bill is offset through solar power generation.
In 2023, we upgraded a section of the trail to make it truly handicap accessible. This involved reframing the trail, laying new stone, flattening it, removing hazards, and refinishing a bridge.
Many volunteers help to steward Grant’s Woods, including 10 land stewards, seven property maintenance volunteers, and four water quality monitors. We also have many volunteers who help out in the office, as well as a team of ambassador volunteers who provide education and awareness as ‘Grant’s Greeters’ at the trailhead in the warmer months. Thank you to all of our volunteers.
We estimate that over 7,000 people walk in this forest each year. There is no cost to visit, but donations are gratefully accepted to help protect this reserve and others. Please consider taking a direct role in protecting the natural heritage of our community by making a donation today. Donations can be made by visiting the office, giving us a call at 705-326-1620, or on our website.
To learn about this nature reserve and other protected places, please visit our website at www.couchichingconserv.ca.