Peter's Woods
The history of Peter's Woods
At Peter’s Woods Provincial Park, you will find a small remnant of a near virgin maple-beech forest similar to that which once covered many parts of Southern Ontario. The shape of Peter’s Woods was determined 12,000 years ago during the last ice age. Massive glaciers scraped and pushed bedrock and soil into what is now referred to as the Oak Ridges moraine. The moraine, which extends from Orangeville to Trenton, is composed largely of sand, gravel and small boulders.
WBFN stewardship
The Willow Beach Field Naturalists, recognizing the beauty and value of this older-growth wood lot, devoted time and capital to the establishment of the reserve. In 1976 Peter’s Woods was named in memory of club member A.B. (Peter) Schultz.
Today volunteers from WBFN help maintain Peter’s Woods from May to November. The numbered posts along the 0.8 km trail point out particular features of interest. Be sure to watch carefully for signs of wildlife, and sense the wonder of the towering trees around you.
To volunteer at Peter’s Woods, please contact:
The features of Peter's Woods
Peter’s Woods is located on the sandy, north facing slope of the Oak Ridges Moraine. Steep-sided valleys have been cut into this northern slope by surface runoff, springs, and the head-water streams of Mill Creek.
Located Northeast of Cobourg, the reserve is comprised of a diverse mix of deciduous and coniferous forests, including sugar maple, beech, red oak, hemlock, and white pine, which dominate the slopes and uplands.
Wetland areas support forests of white cedar, with local concentrations of red ash and white birch. The nature reserve also includes areas of land that were previously used for agriculture.
Ontario Parks
The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Parks with the assistance of the Nature Conservancy of Canada have approved a management plan for Peter’s Woods Provincial Park, to protect its distinctive landscape, flora and fauna.
View the plan at:
http://files.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/parks-and-protected-areas/mnr_bpp0287.pd
For more information:
Peter’s Woods Provincial Park
c/o Darlington Provincial Park
1600 Darlington Park Road, Bowmanville, ON L1C 3K3
T 905-436-2036 Ext. 231
Visiting Peter's Woods
Peter’s Woods has minimal facilities, including a parking lot, trail, and vault privies.The park is open from May to November. Please stay on the trails and keep dogs on a leash to protect the sensitive habitat.
To report bird sightings or view recent reports from Peter’s Woods, please click the link below:
eBird – Peter’s Woods Nature Reserve
Who was Peter?
Albert Bigelow “Peter” Schultz was born in Port Hope where his New York parents kept a summer vacation home. After serving as a corporal in the U.S. Army, he completed his Masters degree in modern languages at Princeton University. In the mid 1950’s he returned to Port Hope with his wife Virginia, where he taught high school Spanish before eventually purchasing the local Port Hope newspaper. In 1964, Peter was instrumental in the establishment of the Port Hope branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, and he went on to play an important role in the conservation of Port Hope’s architectural heritage.
Peter was also deeply interested in nature and co-founded the Willow Beach Field Naturalists, where he was active in his quest to conserve the natural resources of the countryside. Through his work with the WBFN, he also became a director of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (now Ontario Nature), where he was able to participate at a provincial level in matters of conservation. On a local level he was always concerned about wildlife areas such as Pratt’s Pond, Willow Beach and Carr’s Marsh. Peter had a great knowledge of natural history and his specialized knowledge of birds was invaluable to WBFN and all members who knew him.
