Montreal

Forêt-de-Senneville Nature Reserve (West Island, Montreal)

A hundred-year-old forest just kilometres from the city of Montreal (trail)

Forêt-de-Senneville Nature Reserve, Quebec (Photo by NCC)

Travel to the municipality of Senneville, west of the island of Montreal, to discover an exceptional, 100-year-old forest comprising sugar maples, American beech and Canadian hemlock. On the one-kilometre-long trail, you’ll spot remarkable fauna and flora that only flourishes in mature forest. This environment is an ideal nesting spot for red-shouldered hawk, an at-risk bird of prey. During your visit, make a stop at the Morgan Arboretum, property of McGill University, located adjacent to the forest. The site is open all year round for hiking, cross-county skiing and snowshoeing.

As the nature reserve is accessible only through the Morgan Arboretum, entrance fees are required to access it.

Click here to view the trail map

See below for directions:

Buckthorn control at the Forêt-de-Senneville Nature Reserve

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is leading an ambitious restoration project in Montreal's west end: tackling buckthorn.

Native to Europe and Asia, this invasive plant, was introduced to North America as an ornamental shrub. It has since spread rapidly and taken over a variety of environments, including forests, edges and meadows.

Buckthorn forms dense stands that choke out native vegetation, reducing local biodiversity, and it releases chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants, giving it a competitive edge. It also alters soils and modifies ecosystems, making its control essential to the conservation of natural environments.

Cut buckthorn (Photo by NCC)

Cut...

This restoration, or control, project is taking place at three locations in the town of Senneville: the Forêt-de-Senneville Nature Reserve, Morgan Arboretum and on a neighbouring landowner’s property.

The approach is collaborative: it is essential to control the presence of buckthorn not only on protected sites, but also on neighbouring land to prevent the plant from spreading. Over the past three years, 10 hectares of buckthorn have been controlled at these three locations using a stump-cutting method combined with the installation of a tarpaulin to prevent regrowth.

Tarpaulin (Photo by NCC)

...and replant!

To restore the affected areas, native species representative of the local forest such as red maple and red oak have been planted. They were chosen for their rapid growth, which will enable them to compete effectively with buckthorn.

Do your part

It's crucial to be vigilant when buying plants, as some invasive exotic species are sold in shops and could compromise restoration efforts.

Thank you to our partners: