Officials with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority has planned a special event to encourage Woodstock residents to celebrate “natural connections.”
Working with the City of Woodstock, authority officials have organized a day of hiking and educational sessions at Burgess Park on Saturday, Aug. 27.
The free event will feature guided hikes led by members of the Woodstock Field Naturalists Club and authority environmental education staff, wildlife demonstrations with Sciensssational Snakes, a wildlife gardening workshop and an Oxford EarlyOn Story Stroll, as well as a few other surprises.
“Burgess Park is the perfect location for this event, as we have completed so many projects there with our community partners,” said Brad Hertner, the conservation authority’s community education supervisor. “We’re excited to tell the public about these projects and we’re planning a day full of outdoor learning the people will really enjoy.”
This Celebration Natural Connections event is planned as well to commemorate the ongoing efforts of front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic by highlighting the natural spaces that are critical for physical and mental health. Local artists and municipalities will be involved in the celebration, as well as hiking, naturalist and angling clubs from the area.
“We would especially like to invite all those community members that have been instrumental in helping others through the pandemic,” Hertner said. “A commemorative item will be installed at many of the event locations to recognize the contributions of local front-line workers.
To see a complete list of this and future Celebrating Natural Connections events taking place across the Upper Thames watershed, residents are encouraged to visit www.thamesriverevents.ca.
Future events are planned for September and October in St. Marys, Mitchell, Stratford, Dorchester and Sweaburg.
This project has partially funded by the federal government.
IF YOU GO
When: Saturday, Aug. 27 from 10 am to 2 pm
· Where: Burgess Park, 403 Tecumseh St., Woodstock.
Primary entrance is from Hawthorn Place (off 11th Line). Follow the signs to the end of Tamarack Boulevard for parking. Secondary entrance is Burgess/Standard Tube Park at 304 Tecumseh St. Follow signs (on trail) to the event site.