The Orillia Horticultural Society has donated the Sid Pomeroy Arboretum on Division Road West to The Couchiching Conservancy. It will now be called, “Cedar Grove Nature Reserve”.
The 7-acre property, located at 1422 Division Road West, connects to nearby Grant’s Woods Nature Reserve by a river flowing through both properties into the North River.
It features a cedar grove that provides excellent winter habitat for White-tailed Deer, along with a meadow that attracts a wide variety of pollinators including Monarch Butterflies. The river and wetland are excellent habitat for kinglets, warblers, wrens, amphibians, snakes and more.
Expressing their commitment to long-term environmental conservation, the Horticultural Society shared a statement: “We have always wanted to protect and preserve the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Arboretum on Division Road, therefore, we are grateful to the Couchiching Conservancy for accepting our donation of the 7 acre property. We all hope that this land will inspire and educate many generations to come under the stewardship of the Conservancy.”
The property has belonged to the Orillia Horticultural Society since 1954, when it was purchased from Harold Drinkwater and established as an Arboretum. The original intent was to grow trees and shrubs to distribute around Orillia and it later evolved into a sanctuary with a field for school groups and family gatherings. The Arboretum has been well cared for by the club who set their green fingers to work with many plantings including trees gifted from the Royal Horticultural Society in London England, Oaks from Windsor Castle and memorial birches at the front, all of which will continue to flourish.
“The Couchiching Conservancy gratefully accepts this donation from The Orillia Horticultural Society to ensure this habitat is protected forever,” said Dorthea Hangaard, the Conservancy’s Executive Director. “Together with our donors and partners, it represents the 57th property that the Couchiching Conservancy has protected since the organization began in 1993.”
The Couchiching Conservancy will be holding their 30th Annual General Meeting on Saturday March 2nd at Hawk Ridge Golf Club from 2 – 4 pm. They encourage anyone who is interested in their work to attend.