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How to Read a Forest

How to Read a Forest
The trees in McCarthy Woods can be up to 90 years old.
The trees in McCarthy Woods can be up to 90 years old.

This walk invites participants to look at individual trees as part of a dynamic ecosystem. We’ll learn about urban forests and explore clues that reveal how they change over time, support human health and biodiversity, and regenerate. You’ll leave better equipped to understand any forests you visit.

Expected topics:

  1. Urban forests 101 — what is an urban or near-urban forest?
  2. Disturbance and regeneration — signs of natural and human disturbance and how these events shape succession.
  3. Canopy layers and light competition — how trees organize themselves.
  4. Soil health and the forest floor — what’s beneath our feet determines what grows above.
  5. Throughout: Tree identification techniques — ways to recognize common species we encounter on our walk

Local experts in Hampton Park are welcome to attend and contribute to the discussion.

Carte indiquant le point de départ
Trajet

We'll meet near the edge of the forest closest to NCC parking at 512 Island Park drive. The route will take us through the forested sections of Hampton Park and reflect on what we find. Shoes and long pants are recommended. Curiosity required :) Bring and share any questions you may have about trees and forests.

The walk will traverse unpaved areas and uneven terrain. There may be pollen, biting or stinging insects, or other environmental stressors. We can be expected to encounter people walking dogs. Taking precautions against ticks is recommended.


Enter the parking lot off the west side of Island Park Drive (just north of Helena).

Au sujet du guide

Aileen is a Registered Professional Forester in Ontario, an ISA-Certified Arborist, a graduate of the Master of Forest Conservation program at the University of Toronto, and a certified tree seed collector with the Forest Gene Conservation Association. Her free time is spent in the garden, looking after fruit trees, vegetables, and native wildflowers, and volunteering for the local tree-planting charity Forêt Capitale Forest.

Guide:

Aileen Duncan, RPF

Quand:
Date:sam 2 mai, 2026
Heure:11h15
Durée: 1 heure 30 min
Langue: anglais
Où:
Début:NCC parking lot, 512 Island Park Dr.
Fin:same
Quartier:Westboro
Distance:1.5 kms
Accessibilité:

Some paths are unpaved and there may be muddy areas.

Galerie d'images
The trees in McCarthy Woods can be up to 90 years old. The forest floor of most sections is covered with young maples.
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