Welcome

With approximately 1,400 acres of land situated on the banks of Otonabee River and over 30 kilometres of nature trails, Trent boasts one of the most picturesque University campuses in the country. The combination of lush forest, drumlins, streams and open fields provides a unique learning and recreational environment that is used by Trent students, faculty and staff as well as by members of the Peterborough and surrounding communities.

The Nature Areas serve a number of purposes, including:

• The long-term preservation of natural areas to maintain the biodiversity of the native organisms around us.
• A place for recreation, to be enjoyed by those in the Trent Community,  local Peterborough communities, and beyond.
• A place to help students learn about environmental principles, issues, and study techniques.
• A place for researchers to study natural environments, how they work, and how they respond to stressors.

Page Contents

• TNA News
• Your Gateway to Nature
• Be a Community Scientist!
• Looking to Conduct Research, Ecological Restoration or Biophysical Manipulation?
• A Leader in the Environment Since 1964

TNA News

Trent University Receives Grant from TD Bank Group to Help Enhance the University Green Network (2021-Nov)

Trent University has received a grant of $350,000 from the TD Bank Group to help enhance the University Green Network (UGN), of which the Trent Nature Areas is a big part. The 3-year grant will help fund an ecologist, and help with implementation of a plan to identify priorities for restoration and enhancement of the natural environment, as well as bring ecologically regenerative elements to campus. Possible priorities include the removal of invasive species, the restoration of specific habitats, and adding educational signage along trails.

Visit the following for more information:

• A Connected University Green Network: https://www.trentu.ca/news/story/28753
• Healthier Ecosystems and Hands-on Learning Advanced at Trent University with $350,000 TD Bank Group Grant: https://www.trentu.ca/news/story/31793

Trent Nature Areas Stewardship Plan (2021)

Over a couple of years, in concert with the development of the latest Trent University Lands Plan, an updated TNA Stewardship Plan has been developed. This plan provides a framework for managing these areas moving forward. Here are some links to the relevant documents on the web:

• Nature Areas Stewardship Plan 2021
• Nature Area Management Plans: A Preliminary Terms of Reference
• Natural Heritage Report (contains Trent Nature Area Summary Sheets among other information)

Trent Nature Areas Logo (2020)

The Trent Nature Areas has a new logo (below).

Developed by the Trent University Nature Areas Committee and Trent University Communications, the logo (below) emphasizes the "tna" acronym (Trent Nature Areas), incorporating leaves as natural attributes to emphasize the purpose of the TNA, to preserve natural areas on campus for Trent and community recreation, education, and research, and to preserve natural habitat.

Look for this new logo to appear on future signage and communications.

Donation from David and Patricia Morton to Improve the TNAs (2019)

We acknowledge a much appreciated donation from long time Trent University friends David and Patricia Morton, part of which has been used to purchase a new tractor (purchased in 2020, pictured below) to aid with TNA maintenance, and part will fund work by students (hopefully in summer 2022, COVID-permitting) to identify and remove invasive species and plant new species to encourage healthy, native vegetation communities in the TNAs. For more on this story read Environmental Advocates and Long-time Friends of Trent, David and Patricia Morton, Invest to Improve Trent's Nature Areas on the Alumni myCommunity site.

Your Gateway to Nature

The Trent Nature Areas are a vital part of the University’s commitment to preserving and honouring the natural world around us (read more on the Trent Lands and Nature Areas website about Trent's commitment to preserving 60% of its lands as natural and green spaces). Appreciated for their marvellous aesthetic and natural qualities, the Nature Areas afford visitors the opportunity to view wildlife and study nature. Take advantage of the Nature Areas to de-stress in a natural environment.

Several of our Nature Areas offer trails where you can engage in activities such as hiking, bird watching, and cross-country skiing. And there are sitting benches scattered around several of the trails where you can sit, rest and take in a view of the land- and/or waterscape in any season. Wander through a sugar maple forest, through a cedar bush, through open fields, or walk alongside the waters of the Trent canal. For more detail on each of the 11 Trent University Nature Areas visit our Maps & Physical Environment web page.

• During your visit, please be respectful of the native wildlife and other visitors.
• On trails marked as not allowing dogs, please take your dog for a walk in another area. 
• On trails allowing dogs, please keep your dog leashed at all times, and scoop up after your pet.
• Pack out all garbage and waste- leave the area as clean as you found it.

Feel free to report any issues or ask any questions via our email at: natureareas@trentu.ca.

Be a Community Scientist!

You can help us to monitor the Trent Nature Areas and bring out your inner scientist! Using your portable electronic device such as a smartphone or tablet, you can use the app iNaturalist to take pictures of and record observations of plants, animals, insects, and other life. iNaturalist records the time and location, and you enter your best estimate of species, and others on the app will verify from the picture you took. The Trent Nature Areas has been set up as a designated location for the app, so everyone can see the observations recorded to date. And over time we will be able to monitor diversity changes in the area, rare species, etc. View the iNaturalist list of observations in the Trent University Nature Areas to date.

The iNaturalist app is available free for Android and iOS, functional on most portable devices. Find out more at the iNaturalist website.

Looking to Conduct Research, Ecological Restoration or Biophysical Manipulation?

Trent University faculty, staff, and students must register their intent to conduct any work on Trent University Lands, including the Trent Nature Areas. This includes research at any academic or research level, ecological restoration efforts, or any type of manipulation of the physical environment. This includes for example a class exercise taking place in a Nature Area, or an undergraduate or graduate thesis researcher wishing to perform their research in a Nature Area.

These applications are reviewed by the Trent University Facilities and Grounds Committee, an advisory Committee to the Vice President of Finance and Administration. This helps to manage the Nature Areas to ensure that the many activities in Nature Areas are not detrimental to the overall purpose of these areas, as well as watching for conflicting uses and overuse that may have negative impacts on the area's wildlife and plant life.

You can find more information, along with a link to the downloadable form, at the bottom of the Facilities & Grounds Advisory Committee website.

A Leader in the Environment Since 1964

Trent University has been a leader in the environment since its inception in 1964. The opening of the John de Pencier Trail in the Trent Nature Areas solidifies the University’s commitment to preserving and celebrating our natural setting. Donor commitment to this important initiative also marks a significant milestone in the creation of Trent University’s Centre of Knowledge in the Environment, the first of several virtual Centres launched at Trent leading up to the University’s 50th anniversary in 2014.

Rich in Environmental and Culture history, Trent University invites you to come explore, and learn about the natural and culture heritage of the Symons Campus.

• Learn more about the geological history of Trent's nature areas.
• Learn more about the cultural history of Trent's nature areas.
• Learn more about the Trent Lands and Nature Areas plan.

The Nature Areas Stewardship Advisory Sub-Committee, under the Facilities & Grounds Advisory Committee, is responsible for the Trent Nature Areas.