Over the course of four days, the author engaged in various outdoor activities in and around Brantford, Ontario, including kayaking down the Grand River, hiking trails in Mount Pleasant Nature Park and along the Trans Canada Trail, and cycling trails in Norfolk County. Wildlife spotted included ducks, birds, fish, deer, and wild turkeys. The activities provided an opportunity to experience the natural beauty and biodiversity of the local landscapes and habitats.
3. The 6.5 km voyage down the Grand River from Blair to
Cambridge passed through a varied landscape with riparian
and floodplain areas, old-growth forest, Carolinian habitat and
limestone cliffs which is home to a diversity of organisms.
Several wildlife species were spotted along the way, including
numerous paddles of ducks, some birds, a herring or two and
several fish.
6. The Mount Pleasant Nature Park, just
outside Brantford, used to be an old fish
hatchery. In 1915, it was transformed into
a splendid park with fine flower beds,
ornamental trees and red pine plantations.
This proved unsustainable and areas of
the park have been slowly reverting back
to a natural state. This was my first time
visiting the park and probably not my last!
8. Hiking along the SC
Johnson Trail, part of the
Trans Canada Trail, in
Brantford. The scenic
trail winds along the
Grand River and provides
numerous opportunities
to see wildlife. We did
see some deer and wild
turkey in an open field
and some birds,
including a herring
fishing for food.
9.
10. Cycling 12 km from Waterford to Simcoe along the newly
finished Waterford Heritage Trail, the Norfolk Sunrise Trail
and Lynn Valley Trail. Our route travelled through wetlands,
agricultural fields, open g
g , p grasslands, mixed woods and
,
Carolinian forest.
Day Four
Cycling
Norfolk
Trails
12. We continued to cycle on a section
of the Lynn Valley Trail, which goes
another 10 km to Port Dover, before
turning around and heading back to
Waterford to end my Time for Nature
week. Riding along the river valley
provided a welcomed relief to the
40°C heat and humidity on the day.
