As the cold weather fades into memory, the Symons Campus transforms into a beautiful oasis of blossoming trees, vibrant flowers, and lush greenery. The long-awaited arrival of spring brings a renewed sense of energy and vitality to the campus, while students and faculty take advantage of the warmer weather to enjoy the outdoors. From the stunning and delicate trillium blossoms and cheerful yellow bell flowers popping up throughout the campus, one cannot help but get lost in the mesmerizing beauty of Trent University.  

On a recent outing into the natural beauty, Trent’s land stewardship coordinator, Ali Giroux, led a group of enthusiastic students on an informative hike along the Lady Eaton Drumlin Trail. As the group trekked through the beautiful trails in the Northern parts of the campus, Ali was able to provide valuable insight into the local ecosystem and the importance of conservation efforts at Trent - as outlined in the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan. 

The comprehensive plan created by Trent University to guide the sustainable development and management of its lands and nature areas is one of the biggest initiatives taken by Trent in recent years to provide a framework to balance the needs of the campus community with the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment. 

As the group passed under budding trees, Ali pointed out various types of flora and fauna found in the area, fascinating students with the diversity of life they encountered. Her expertise and passion for the environment made for an engaging and enlightening experience, giving the students an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of preserving nature through land stewardship. 

Ali had an eagle eye for spotting various types of plants and animals. The first plant Ali spotted was a delicate Violet species, known for their deep violet colour and heart-shaped leaves. Next, Ali pointed out a patch of Trout Lilies that have distinctive yellow petals and spotted leaves, followed by the May Apple that have large umbrella-shaped leaves and the cheerful Yellow Bell Flower known for its yellow bell-shaped blooms. Ali was also able to spot stunning blooms of Sharp-lobed Hepatica, which is a wildflower with varying flower petal colours. Ali’s assistant, Gillian Johnson (Peter Gzowski College), who is a M.BEMA student currently completing a summer placement at Trent, was able to spot an Ovenbird nearby, a small songbird that nests on the forest floor.  

The stars of the show were most definitely the Trillium blooms spread across the hills. With their white petals and signature red centre, Trilliums have been the Provincial Flora Emblem in Ontario since 1937.  

As the group made their way along the Lady Eaton Drumlin Trail, they stumbled upon the remnants of the old Nassau Ski Jump, which was constructed in 1937 by the Peterborough Winter Sports Committee. The ski jump was a significant feature of the Peterborough winter sports scene for a couple of decades, and local ski hero Otto Laderach was instrumental in its creation. The ski jump provided a thrilling experience for enthusiastic skiers, until the ski jump was eventually dismantled in 1961 as the land was bought by Trent University. Nevertheless, the remnants of the ski jump serve as a reminder of Peterborough's rich winter sports history, and students on the tour appreciated learning more about the history of Trent’s campus and the land on which it sits.  

Photo Mosaic

1. Delicate Violet Species
2. May-apple
3. Trillium
4. Trout Lily (leaf) 
5. Trout Lily (Flower) 
6. Sharp-lobed Hepatica