Redwing Trail

The Redwing Trail is a good example of mixed forest species. In the lowland area, you will see alder, willow and cedar. In the upland areas, you will see hickory, oak, beech and hard maple. Small mammals, deer and reptiles are often observed on this trail.

Dotted Hawthorn
One of over 100 species of Hawthorn found in North America, this member of the Rose family has many stout thorns and tangy, edible fruit.

Animal Run
The route regularly taken by an animal as it travels between resting areas and feeding areas.

Nannyberry
A member of the Honeysuckle family, Nannyberry has long, slender beige buds; opposite leaf arrangement; clusters of small, creamy white flowers and edible, bluish-black berries.

Canada Goose Cones
Canada Geese prefer to build nests on small islands or marsh banks. If they cannot find a suitable site, geese will use artificial nests.

Cattail
One need never starve where cattails grow! At different times during the year, all parts of the plant (except the leaves) are edible.

Ash
Recognized by compound leaves that are opposite in arrangement. A wetland is called a swamp when trees or shrubs are the dominant vegetation type.

White Cedar
The inner bark of the Eastern White Cedar or Aborvitae, the tree of life, was used by Jacques Cartier to treat scurvy among his crew.

Speckled Alder Thicket
Usually found along a wetland edge. Speckled Alder shrubs add fertility to the soil by transforming gaseous nitrogen into compounds useful to plants.

Wetland Habitat
Wetlands are homes for many animals. Look in and on the water for insects and insect larvae, for fish (minnows and carp), for frogs and turtles, for birds (more than 100 species use wetlands) and for mammals (muskrat, beaver, mink and raccoon).

White Spruce
The roots of the White Spruce are so pliable that Native Americans would use them for lacing the birch bark on canoes.

White Pine
Ontario's arboreal emblem. The White Pine is the only pine in Eastern Canada with five needles in a bundle.

Tamarack
The only evergreen that is not evergreen! In autumn the Tamarack's needles turn yellow and are shed from the tree.

Grey Birch
Grey Birch bark does not peel easily and has black patches. The leaves are triangular in shape with long, drawn-out tips.

Black Cherry
The fruit of the Black Cherry is slightly bitter, but edible. The almost black cherries are a favourite of birds such as the Cedar Waxwing and Northern Cardinal.

Bracken
Our most common fern as it grows in large colonies almost anywhere. Bracken is a tall, strong and coarse fern with leaves divided into three nearly equal parts. Fiddleheads can be eaten raw or cooked (cooking recommended).

Take Cover
This thick jumble of understorey plants offers ideal habitat and protection for many woodland creatures. Chipmunks, squirrels, shrews and rabbits find shelter here. Ground feeding birds such as Robins, Catbirds, Brown Thrashers and Winter Wrens scratch around here for insects and seeds.

This information piece is funded by the Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation and its customers. To find out how you can participate, visit your local Canada Trust branch.