Hickson Trail

The Trails Await You

Yesterday a team of two volunteers added a bird feeding system to the new bench on the North Section of our trail and did some repairs as well. Thank you so much!!!! Thanks again Ted for your help and dedication to the trail.

Despite some pandemic and weather-related challenges, it was a banner year for the Upper Thames River conservation authority's turtle hatchling program, the conservation authority recently announced.

The Carameuse Limestone Valley Trail has seen some major improvements. Access is from Domtar Line. Thank you Carameuse and the Oxford Trails Council. Watch their video on youtube. https://youtu.be/r7O6ABMjPbY

It’s the last week of November and the final week of #HistoricBridgeAwarenessMonth. This picturesque postcard from the Oxford County Archives features the Port ...Dover Rail Line bridge, which was just south of Tavistock. This postcard was produced circa early 1920s. The Port Dover & Lake Huron Railway Company (PD&LH) was established in Port Dover in 1875. The rail line ran from Port Dover through Simcoe to Woodstock, eventually connecting to Stratford in 1876. The rail line was established with the intention of connecting Lake Erie and Lake Huron with a railway, but it never made it past Stratford and was decommissioned in 1965. COA PC68 Port Dover Railway Bridge South of Tavistock ca. 1920s. www.oxfordcounty.ca/archives

A new beautiful memorial bench was installed yesterday on the North Section of the Hickson Trail. Great job! Thank you.

Awesome weather for November. Trails were very busy. Here is a shot from the Thames River Trail Beachville Ontario Nov 9 2020.

https://youtu.be/wiOTZ-_8P80

A series of riffles were recently installed at the former Hodges Pond. The riffles are another project to improve water quality and aquatic habitat of Cedar Cre...ek in Oxford County south of Woodstock, Ontario. The UTRCA is working with the County of Oxford to restore Cedar Creek and restore wetlands at Hodges Pond near Woodstock. Funding for this portion of the project provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Gunn's Hill Limited. The community partner for this project is the Oxford County Trails Council. Oxford County Oxford County Trails Council

Congratulations to Sharon Norton for earning her Warrior Badge

These rules apply to the Hickson Trail as well.

These photos were taken this week by a member of the Woodstock Naturalists who kindly has shared them with the Hickson Trail. These pictures were taken on the Centre Section of our trail between Oxford Road 33 and Braemar Road. The lovely plant with the red berries is called Amur Honeysuckle and it is very attractive to Cedar Waxwings and Robins. This plant is abundant on the trail.

Leslianne sent us these photos from Hickson Trail she took recently

First badges awarded to Leslianne and Susan receiving their 100K badges.

Badge Program Update: Husky Trail & Wildwood Trails have been removed from the eligible Trails as they require a Paid Pass to access, Sorry for any confusion. You can download a updated list from our web page. http://www.oxfordcountytrailscouncil.ca/ba/Trails%20Log.pdf

Members of the Woodstock Field Naturalists’ Club gathered at the Brick Ponds Thursday afternoon to view the installation of the first of four Osprey platforms, ...visible to the public from Springbank Avenue and Dufferin Street. Thanks to Phil Holst and Ducks Unlimited, the platform was erected by Paul Brown & Son Excavating Ltd. With any kind of luck, a pair of Ospreys will arrive next April and set up residence. Please report any activity that you notice to ebird.org, the database used worldwide for tracking bird observations. Thanks to the members of the Woodstock Field Naturalists’ Osprey Platform Committee: Marilyn and Barry Merkley, Bernice Marsland, Dinath Ratnayake, Richard Skevington, Larry Lamb, Sharron Skevington, Phil Holst, Don Douma (absent Adrian Juurlink, Jim Watson, John VanBeek, Mark Malecki)

Birds are fledging and taking first flights. Bernice has been watching these baby robins figure it all out. Do you have babies around? Let us know what you're seeing these days!

Get out and enjoy our trails, Some from the Standard Tube Trail Woodstock Ontario July 31 2020

WARNING: There have been reports of coyotes spotted on the Beachville Thames River trails. A reminder that ALL DOGS must be on a leash at all times and those ru...nning free are subject to predation by coyotes and are at a elevated risk fro tick infestation. If you love your dog please keep them on a leash no longer than 2 metres and in control at all times. The trails are for everyone and people should not have to worry about dogs running off leash. See more

Oxford County Trails Council Introduces A New Badge Program http://www.heartfm.ca//oxford-county-trails-council-intro/

Here is your chance to give your opinion about cycling on Oxford's trails.