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OXFORD THAMES RIVER TRAIL TRAIL MAP Queen Street Parking Lot GPS Location XY Coordinates 43.098627, -80.826398   TREE PLANTING 2012
TREE PLANTING 2011 Beachville Corridor Restoration Project Check out this great video of tree planting on the Beachville River Trail  Overview This project seeks to restore ecological function to the Thames River Corridor, east of Beachville, after years of neglect and misuse. This project will be implemented through a partnership between the Oxford County Trails Council, The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), the City of Woodstock, & local landowners, with the majority of funding provided by Environment Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program. The goals of the project are to plant 1880 native trees and shrubs and 5 acres of tallgrass prairie. Approximately 0.5 acres of wetland habitat will be improved through planting of a treed buffer, 1000 aquatic plants & wetland seed to increase biodiversity, and installation of 10 nest boxes. This project will educate local residents through interpretive signs, factsheets, and online articles. It will also involve approximately 900 local students and other volunteers in project implementation. Implementation of this project will begin with site preparation of the prairie sites in September 2011. This preparation is crucial to suppressing the non-native cool season grasses and plants that currently exist on site. The current mix of non-native cool season grasses germinate early in the spring and will not allow the native prairie species to get started. A combination of mowing, spraying, and cultivating will prepare the area for prairie establishment. The prairie seed will then be planted in summer 2012, and the prairie should be fully established by 2013. Once established, the prairie will need no chemical inputs to sustain it. Long-term prairie management is done through scheduled burning of the site to remove accumulated organic matter and suppress woody species. The tree and shrub planting will also begin in fall 2011. This phase of the project will begin in early November, with 3 days of tree planting with nearly 300 local student volunteers. The wetland enhancement phase will commence in spring of 2012. THAMES TRAIL OPENS
 The first phase of the trail is now open. Above we see the official cutting of the the vine. Thanks to everyone who came out. click above link to download donation form Oxford Thames River Trail was a dream born in 2007 with a consultant feasibility study funded by The Ontario Trillium Foundation that outlined a trail to be built on county-owned lands, along the Thames River, between Beachville and Woodstock. After much patience and perserverance the Oxford County Trails Council working in conjunction with a local group of Beachville Trail Enthusiasts launched the Fund Raising Campaign on January 25th, 2010. There are still hurdles to be clarified but the first phase of 4 km of a great recreational trail may soon become a reality. We are working in tandem with County and Local Municipal Councils, as well as the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, private land owners, and others with a relationship to the lands. Our hope is to create a passive, non-motorized trail that will be accessible to trail users of all ages and abilities. We will develop, construct and maintain trails to the highest possible standards to allow everyone the opportunity to explore the historically significant heritage river - The Thames River. Walk, Bike, Ski - Enjoy Nature At It's best. Signs donated by Erb Signs Woodstock Ont Part of building trails is raising funds for the construction. The committee members are working hard to reach our goal of $256,000 for the first phase of this wonderful trail. With your help we can make this trail a reality for everyone to enjoy! All donations welcome. Mail cheques payable to Oxford County Trails Council Attn: Oxford Thames River Trail, 410 Buller St., Woodstock ON N4S 4N2 We are a registered charitable organization and all donations will be issued with a tax deductable receipt. Below is our Build a metre campaign, just one of the ways you can be a part of this project
Thank you for your support!
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