Nature is where you find it
Living roof at Vancouver Convention Centre (Photo by Michael Wheatley/Alamy Stock Photo)
And more and more of us are looking for it close to home.
In and around our cities you’ll find countless opportunities for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. From hiking along a wooded trail, to snowshoeing on a prairie or cross-country skiing alongside a frozen river, a trip to an urban park is a perfect way to take a break from our screens and clear our heads.
Canada’s cities offer more than 15,000 hectares of natural parkland, according to Park People. And more and more research is pointing to the invaluable benefits of green spaces in and around us. These places are our cities’ lungs and kidneys, purifying our environment by absorbing pollutants. They also reduce the risk of flooding by retaining water from the spring thaw and heavy rainfall.
Nature is where people go to get fresh air, exercise, feel a sense of calm or take a break from everyday pressures. In fact, a new Ipsos Public Affairs online survey conducted for the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) revealed that eight in 10 people are spending time outdoors to care for their well-being. Many are heading outside more now than before the pandemic began.
And that’s not all. Time in nature can foster a deeper connection to it and the desire to protect it. Are you ready to lace up your boots to explore new places close to you? Here are seven NCC properties within an hour’s drive of a major urban centre:
1. Chase Woods Nature Preserve, BC
Water flows past a trail at Chase Woods, BC (Photo by Chris Istace)
As part of the Mt. Tzouhalem trail network, the trails on Chase Woods traverse moderate to difficult terrain en route to the preserve’s clifftop views. The journey takes visitors through lush coastal Douglas-fir forests and across Garry oak bluffs. Trails can become slippery in winter weather, so explore with care.
Closest urban centre: Duncan, BC (14 km)
2. Bunchberry Meadows, AB
Bunchberry Meadows, AB (Photo by Brent Calver)
Located just a 20-minute drive from downtown Edmonton, the four easy trails of Bunchberry Meadows take visitors through native parklands, where the quiet flow of the river and the wind in the trees offer a calming experience. The property offers excellent opportunities for snowshoeing in winter.
Closest urban centre: Edmonton, AB (30 km)
3. Asquith, SK
NCC's Asquith property (Photo by Jason Bantle)
With its six kilometres of mowed trail, Asquith’s vistas of prairie landscapes provide a chance to relax and recharge. During spring and summer, enjoy the fragrant wildflowers and open grasslands over the backdrop of grassland birdsong. In winter, the property is available for snowshoeing.
Closest urban centre: Saskatoon, SK (55 km)
4. The Forks Prairie Garden, MB
The Forks Prairie Garden, Manitoba (Photo by NCC)
Nestled in the heart of downtown Winnipeg, The Forks Prairie Garden gives visitors a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. In winter, lace up and hit the skating trail that winds through the garden. In warmer months, visitors can immerse themselves in this demonstration garden that features various tall grass prairie grasses and wildflowers, providing visitors with a glimpse into Manitoba’s natural history.
Closest urban centre: Winnipeg, MB (downtown)
5. Backus Woods, ON
The breathtaking Backus Woods in Ontario. One of the best examples of Carolinian old-growth forest in the country. (Photo by Ann Tipper and Zach Melnick)
Visitors can walk, ski or snowshoe their way through one of the seven trails at Backus Woods in winter and enjoy its Carolinian forests. The property is open year-round, and is situated in an important Bird Area and Provincial Area of Natural and Scientific Interest with provincially significant wetlands.
Closest urban centre: London, ON (approx 95 km)
6. Alfred-Kelly Nature Reserve, QC
Hikers at Alfred-Kelly Nature Reserve, QC (Photo by Guillaume Simoneau)
With 15 spectacular trails to choose from, the Alfred-Kelly Nature Reserve is accessible year-round except during spring thaw and times of heavy rain. Perfect for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in winter, or for hiking to see the trilliums in spring or the fall foliage, this
property has something to offer in every season.
Closest urban centre: Montreal, QC (60 km)
7. Musquash Estuary, NB
Musquash Estuary Nature Reserve, NB (Photo by Denis Duquette)
Hikers on the the challenging, strenuous coastal trails here are rewarded by views of the fully functioning river estuaries of the Bay of Fundy. Visitors can see coastal peatlands and eastern white cedar stands and plentiful patches of tall fern. Two of the three trails here are accessible year-round.
Closest urban centre: Saint John, NB (approx 30 km)
This story originally appeared in the winter 2022 issue of the Nature Conservancy of Canada Magazine. To learn more about how you can receive the magazine, click here.
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