Solitude Nature Reserve

A Yeti tumbler was found at Solitude a couple of weeks back if you think it may be yours post to this and I will let you know where it is.

As of today we have raised $2,700 ( 27%) towards the purchase of the building materials for our new Bunkie. Thanks to all that have donated. Remember from now till the end of the year all donations go towards the Bunkie and you can gift a night stay for every $50 you donate. Donations can be made by etransfer to [email protected] or by cheque to Phil McNamee Charitable Foundation 367 Princess Ave London ON N6B2A7. Remember to include the name and address to whom you are sending the gift to. We will send a Christmas card to them noting that a gift of nature to Solitude has been made in their name.

Today being Giving Tuesday and we are sure there are lots of people wondering what they are going to do about Christmas giving this year here is what we have to offer. This year all our donations are going towards purchasing materials for our treehouse Bunkie. So from now till Christmas every donation you make to Solitude the recipient will receive a Christmas card that you have given a gift of nature in their name. Furthermore that person will also get for every $50 donatio...n a night stay in our new Bunkie. The Bunkie will have two bunk beds and will be able to sleep 5. Donations can be made to my email address [email protected] please include your address for the tax receipt and the name and address of the recipient. Or by cheque to Phil McNamee Charitable Foundation 367 Princess Ave London ON N6B2A7 with the above mentioned information. A gift of Nature lasts all year long. See more

Much Thanks to Kim and Keith who spend four hours this morning clearing 20 trees that had blown down in those winds over the trails. All trails are now fully cleared. Also Thanks to Carol and Kristina who also worked out there today. So nice to have volunteers that go out and get the job done without even being asked.

We are deeply grateful for the generous donation received by the mayor of Central Elgin, Sally Martyn. So nice to have the community and its leaders supporting Solitude Nature Reserve.

Fundraising for the Treehouse Bunkie. Goal $10,000.

Here are pictures of the six campsites of Solitude

Our project at Solitude for 2021 is to build a treehouse Bunkie. Tilman has designed and created a scale model of what we hope to build. It will be built off Lawson’s trail where that partial structure now stands. All donations over the next 6 months will go into purchasing building materials. We will have a work weekend or two in the spring to construct the Bunkie. If you would like to volunteer or donate please let us know. Hopefully we will be able to take bookings for July. Here are the pictures of the model.

Beautiful time of the year to visit Solitude. Here are a few pictures from today.

This afternoon a powerful storm hit Solitude and brought many trees on the west side. The new Lucy’s trail is not passable on the west side till we get more trees cleared. We cleared the other trails and the east side of Lucy’s trail tonight. All campsites are okay and all interior trails are clear. Hope to have Lucy’s trail completely cleared by Saturday.

Thanks to Tilman and Pat for updating our trail board to include the two new trails at Solitude. Lucy’s Trail is named after our new Granddaughter born in July. Also picked up two more camp chairs and set them up in Site 5.

Great outing at Solitude third annual Grammie Camp

Many Thanks to Keith Melvin and Kim Nutley who have taken on the position of maintenance managers of Solitude. They will be there on a regular basis cutting the grass and checking the toilets and trail maintenance. If you see them out there thank them for helping to keep Solitude clean. We ask all that use Solitude to help by picking up garbage while you walk the trails. Thanks and Enjoy.

Assembled the first three campsite chairs and put up some of the tree identification plaques today out at Solitude.

Spent the day out at Solitude enjoying nature.

The new wilderness trail is now open. It is marked with yellow trail markers starting in the parking lot out by the road heading east. Here are a few pictures along the trail.

Solitude’s newest resident

Many Thanks to Dave and Nancy Hurgett, Chris McCrady and Mary Hanley for a full day of work on the trails. All 20 cubic yards of wood chips are now down on the trails. The new perimeter trail is also now cut and marked around Solitude. You can pick up the new trail from the parking lot heading east. We will start construction of the boardwalks later once we obtain funding. Fairly dry now so it is possible to walk the trail. Enjoy.

Out at Solitude yesterday enjoying the spectacular trillium display and the newly chipped trails.

As the Ontario government is reopening Parks and Conservation areas next week we will open our camping as of May15th at Solitude. As we don’t use common washroom facilities we see social distancing working for families and individuals (for the time being). No unrelated groups please. Please email me for camping permits. I need names, ages site preference and dates.

Many thanks to Dave and Nancy Hurgett and Mary Hanley for working spreading new wood chips on the trails today. Still lots of chips to do to complete the trails. Also worked on clearing a new hiking trail around the perimeter of Solitude. Starts in the parking lot and heads east. Should have it done by June.

Out at Solitude working on the trails yesterday. Beautiful out there, lots of flowers and plants coming out including a few very rare yellow trilliums. I have painted blazes to mark out a route to help with social distancing. Please follow the white blazes and you will walk the entire trail route. Please remember to keep your six feet separation. Hopefully we can offer camping again by June.