W ith trees as tall as the eye can see, is an outdoor adventure waiting to be had, just outside of one of Canada’s busiest cities.
Located just 30 kilometres from downtown Edmonton, the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) Bunchberry Meadows provides city dwellers with a quick escape out of the busy metropolis and into nature.
“When I was first given a tour of Bunchberry Meadows by NCC staff, I was in complete amazement that a landscape so beautiful and diverse could exist so close to the city,” says Natalie Goulet-Sorenson, landscape architect at Stantec.
As Edmonton grew and changed, Bunchberry Meadows remained the same – maintaining some of the only true old-growth forests in Alberta. As the city continues to develop, it has become increasingly difficult for urbanites to find open, natural spaces to enjoy, or in which to teach their children about the outdoors.
In 1974, five families bought the Bunchberry Meadows Conservation Area, near the Devonian Botanic Garden. For 40 years the families cared for the land, protecting important habitat for moose and numerous other species.
When they decided to sell the land, the family members approached NCC.
NCC officially launched a campaign to save Bunchberry Meadows on May 21, 2015. Since then, Edmontonians and people from the surrounding communities have stepped up in support of the campaign so that this special amenity can be created.
Natalie was part of the Stantec team that created a sustainable infrastructure so that the public can safely explore and enjoy Bunchberry Meadows.
“It was important to us that we incorporate as much recycled material as possible to support the natural history of the site,” recalls Natalie. “All the interpretive and directional signage posts are made from old, reclaimed fence posts that once surrounded the cattle yard.”
An important element Natalie and the team worked hard to minimize the amount of disruption on the land while building infrastructure, such as trails.
“The parking lot was designed within the existing cattle yard, which had been previously cleared and disturbed,” says Natalie. “We worked with the existing grading as much as possible to not affect the drainage patterns of the surrounding tree stands.”
The team kept nature in mind while building infrastructure for the public to enjoy.
“The trails were all established or upgraded within existing trail corridors so that the amount of disturbance for tree clearing was very minimal,” explains Natalie.
When she’s not working on building infrastructure for natural areas, Natalie and her family enjoy these outdoor green spaces.
“I find peace in hitting the trails for a hike or a run – mostly to relieve stress and stay fit, but also to reconnect with nature. One of my family’s favourite things to do in the summer is to canoe down a remote area of a river, watch all the wildlife and listen to the quiet flow of the river and wind in the trees.”
While at Bunchberry, visitors may see some of the wildlife that this natural area shelters, including moose. The property’s jack pines, sand ridges, groundwater fens and wetlands teem with life.
“It’s important that Canadians take time to embrace and have a meaningful connection to nature,” says Natalie. “We wouldn’t be alive without nature.”
Bunchberry Meadows officially opened to the public in 2017. As one of NCC’s Nature Destinations, Bunchberry Meadows is the perfect getaway for nature lovers and those looking to dip their toes into the outdoors, without having to drive hours to do so.
“I fall increasingly in love with Bunchberry Meadows every time I visit,” says Natalie. “I’m so honoured to have been a part of such an important and special project. It’s wonderful that we have organizations like NCC to conserve and protect our landscapes.”
Species to Spot
– barn swallow
– broad-winged hawk
– bufflehead
– great blue heron
– great horned owl
– moose
– northern goshawk
– pileated woodpecker
– white-tailed deer
– woodchuck
An area rich in history
In 1974, five families bought Bunchberry Meadows Conservation Area – a parcel of land bordering Edmonton, near the Devonian Botanic Garden. For 40 years, the families cared for the land, protecting important habitat for moose and numerous other species.
When the decision to sell the land was made, the family members approached NCC. Incredibly, these five families came together and agreed to sell their land for half of its appraised value in order to ensure it would be conserved for the people of the Edmonton region of see, enjoy and connect with nature. Without this generous decision, this project would not have happened.
Photo Credits (Top to bottom): NCC; Brent Calver; NCC; NCC; NCC.
