Sherwood park NA brochure 2/13/07 11:18 AM Page 1

Sherwood NaturalSherwood Park NaturalArea Area WhatNatural are Natural Areas Areas? ForInformation more Information about This 68-hectares site is a gently rolling Natural areas are set aside for conservation, Sherwood Park Natural Area: landscape of aspen forest and willow sedge recreation and/or environmental education Tourism, Parks, Recreation & Culture Parks & Protected Areas Park wetlands surrounded by agricultural land and purposes. They are part of an extensive network residential developments. Trails in the area are of protected areas that preserves the ’s 2nd floor, Oxbridge Place Natural Area accessible from a parking lot on Range Road biological and physical diversity. 9820-106 Street 231. The trail loop from the parking lot is , Alberta T5K 2J6 2.7 kilometres in length. Sherwood Park Natural Area supports low-impact 780-427-3582 (toll-free 1-866-427-3582) activities such as hiking, bird watching and www.alberta parks.ca environmental education. Most natural areas have no facilities and in those that do, facilities are Recreation, Parks & Culture minimal and consist mainly of parking areas and 2025 Oak Street trails. Sherwood Park, Alberta T8A 0W9 780-467-2211 Sherwood Park Natural Area is south of Sherwood Sustainable Resource Development Park, four kilometres from the intersection of Wye Lands Division Road and Range Road 231, 0.8 kilometres south 182 Chippewa Road of Hwy. 628/Township Road 522 (an extension of Sherwood Park, Alberta T8A 4H5 the Whitemud Fwy). 780-464-7955 Legend

Protecting a Natural ISBN 978-0-7785-6197-2 Printed February 2007 Landscape...Together Sherwood park NA brochure 2/13/07 11:18 AM Page 2 Sherwood Park Natural Area

The mosaic of habitats Fish & Game Association, Colchester dairy You too play a role in ensuring that Site Features Features in this natural area farmers Reg and Olive Gray worked with the Sherwood Park Natural Area remains intact Set on the western edge of the Cooking attracts a variety of bird Government of Alberta to have the lands for the enjoyment of present and future Lake Moraine, the gently-rolling upland species, many of which designated as one of Alberta’s first natural areas. generations. Please: terrain of Sherwood Park Natural Area is reside here year-round. The site was designated in 1971. covered by mature poplar forests and Among the permanent bird • remain on trails and footpaths to In the late 1980s, because of the efforts of well- scattered white birch. There are also residents are black-capped prevent damage to the area; known naturalists and former Strathcona County remnant stands of mature white spruce, chickadees; blue jays; ruffed residents Cam & Joy Finlay and County Reeve Jim • do not light fires, cut trees or camp poplar and birch, reminders of the grouse; great-horned and saw- Common, Sherwood Park Natural Area became the here; mixedwood forests that once covered much whet owls; downy, hairy and first project under the national “Wildlife ‘87” of the moraine. The richly dense understory pileated woodpeckers; program, a year-long celebration marking 100 • carry out your own garbage and any of shrubs and wildflowers is a continual and white-breasted and years of wildlife conservation in Canada. other refuse you may come across; source of interest and colour from early May red-breasted nuthatches. until late September. Summer residents include least flycatchers, rose- • do not collect or remove flowers, plants breasted grosbeaks, northern orioles and yellow SherwoodNatural Park NaturalArea Area & and YouYou or animals - leave them for others to The forests and wetlands of the site form a warblers. enjoy; close-knit community of plants and animals, Sherwood Park Natural Area is an oasis for each one needing the others to ensure Keep your eyes open for butterflies, dragonflies wildlife. Pedestrian trails wind throughout, • do not disturb wildlife; and survival of the community. Forests in the and damselflies and in spring, listen for the high- making it easy for you to observe and appreciate natural area are home to many mammals. pitched singing of chorus frogs and the duck-like nature and participate in outdoor education • keep your dog on a leash and please White-tailed deer are quite common and quacking of wood frogs. You may also hear the activities. scoop up your pet’s droppings and moose occasionally wander through the songs of chorus frogs during heavy summer rains. deposit them in the garbage can on the Strathcona County Recreation, Parks & Culture woods. Coyotes are rarely seen, however, way out. holds a recreational lease on Sherwood Park they do hunt here. You may find large Old Edmonton Edmonton Trail Trail Natural Area from Alberta Sustainable Resource willows whose bark has been nibbled by Also be aware that Strathcona County Development. Volunteer stewards assist the porcupines and snowshoe hares. Red When the Province of Alberta was first surveyed, bylaws prohibit the use of horses and provincial government and the county with site squirrels reside in spruce stands where the site of Sherwood Park Natural Area was wheeled vehicles (including bicycles) on monitoring and maintenance. Stewards also assist there’s year-round shelter and a dependable earmarked for a school. Local farmers held walking trails in Sherwood Park Natural with site management by encouraging appropriate food supply. grazing permits and leases on the site beginning Area. in the late 1800s, and people traveling between use of the area. There are a number of permanently wet Edmonton and Cooking Lake began following a If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer depressions and one small slough in the route through the area in the early 1900s. steward, call 780-467-2211. northwest corner of the site. One of the Evidence of the “Old Edmonton Trail” can still be wetlands is a mossy swamp with Labrador seen today. Plaques mark several of the original tea and a few spruce and larch. Others are survey markers along this historic route. dominated by willows, sedges, marsh marigolds and coltsfoot. In 1966, adjacent land owners took action to protect the area’s virgin forest for future generations. Supported by the Sherwood Park