  Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest has received a very generous donation from Halifax C&D Recycling Ltd. to expand and improve our trails network! Halifax C&D Recycling’s donation will help us to continue laying out trail segments, build crossings through wet areas and install trail identification markers. The funds also will cover the costs of renting equipment, purchasing materials, and perhaps hiring a contractor to help us with tricky sections. The work will start in the spring of 2018 and hopefully be completed by late fall. In 2016, OPDF commissioned a Trails Master Plan from Community Forests Canada which mapped out and described 8 km of potential trails throughout the project lands. In 2017, we roughed out about 4 km of trails during a series of volunteer work parties. Some clearing of the paths has been done, but the main work – in particular, crossings of wet spots, installation of erosion and water controls, and creating a section of highly accessible trail for visitors with limited mobility – has yet to be undertaken. The 8 km of trails, once completed, will allow visitors to access and enjoy several different forest types and ecosystems present at Otter Ponds. We look forward to completing this destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. We are grateful to Halifax C&D Recycling Ltd. for their generous support of Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest! 
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  Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest has been awarded a grant from Mountain Equipment Co-op's Community Investment Fund to develop the "Otter Ponds Acadian Forest Trail."
This grant will allow us to hire a trail consultant to create a detailed plan for the Acadian Forest Trail by spring 2016, as well as provide training to teach volunteers how to build it. We hope to complete the trail network by spring 2017. After a call for proposals, the trail consultant contract has been awarded to Community Forests Canada, based in Sackville, NB. We look forward to working with them on this project. The trail network will connect the many habitats and forest types of Otter Ponds, and showcase the sustainable forestry practices of the project. The construction of these trails will greatly enhance the educational opportunities we have at Otter Ponds and allow access to some areas of the project lands that are currently difficult to reach. We believe the nearly 10 km trail will be a recreational and educational resource for Nova Scotia, and look forward to being able to offer Nova Scotians the opportunity to experience the Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest like never before. We are most grateful to MEC for their confidence and sponsorship! |
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