Hastings Lennox and Addington MPP Ric Bresee joined members of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) Saturday to unveil new accessible visitor amenities and hiking trails at Railway Creek Nature Reserve near Madoc.
The site improvements were made possible thanks to a $57,200 capital grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).
Picnic tables added to the site allow for a peaceful meal or snack in nature. (Photo: Nature Conservancy of Canada)
“We are so happy to partner with Nature Conservancy Canada to help provide improved trails,” said Bresee. “I certainly enjoy and encourage others to enjoy ‘forest therapy’ walks, which improve mental and physical health through this awesome connection to nature.”
The new visitor facilities include a new wheelchair-accessible observation deck overlooking a wetland, bilingual nature interpretation signage detailing local ecology and natural heritage, picnic tables, a newly cleared parking area, and the creation of a 3.5 kilometre hiking trail loop through the property’s forests and wetlands that includes multiple bridges and water crossings.
Visitors enjoying a hike through Railway Creek Nature Reserve. (Photo: Nature Conservancy of Canada)
These new features support outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors in Hastings County, allowing more people to access nature and participate in outdoor events at the Nature Reserve.
The funding also supported the upgrade and modification of hiking trails at Hastings Wildlife Junction, a 10,400-hectare piece of land that was recently acquired by NCC for conservation.
The area’s significant biodiversity and ecosystem benefits, as well as the growing threat of development in this area, make these lands a critical contribution to landscape-scale conservation in southern Ontario, protecting habitat for species at risk and ensuring large expanses of land for wildlife to move throughout their life cycle.
Madoc Lions Club members with Nature Conservancy of Canada staff. (Photo: Nature Conservancy of Canada)
The trails will allow NCC to better accommodate the increasing number of visitors to the area, while also protecting important habitats like the forests and wetlands of Railway Creek.
“The Nature Conservancy of Canada is excited to unveil new visitor facilities and trails at the Railway Creek Nature Reserve, made possible thanks to this OTF grant,” said Carolyn Davies, Program Director – Large Landscapes, Ontario Region, for Nature Conservancy of Canada. “These features will allow more people to discover and experience nature here in Hastings County. Visitors might hear the sounds of calling frogs and at-risk bird species, discover how plants and wildlife change throughout the seasons, and observe the incredible biodiversity of wetland habitats firsthand. The new facilities are also going to support meaningful environmental learning opportunities for local students, helping to instill a lifelong love of nature.”
Nature Conservancy of Canada staff showcasing the new accessible wetland viewing platform. (Photo: Nature Conservancy of Canada)
The public is invited to visit Railway Creek Nature Reserve, located at 605 Bannockburn Road, Madoc, to enjoy the new visitor facilities and trails.
New bridge over wetland areas, part of the new visitor infrastructure added to the Nature Reserve. (Photo: Nature Conservancy of Canada)
