Forests and surface waters of Sandy Lake & Environs (Bedford, Nova Scotia)

“The incredible Sandy Lake (Bedford) and surrounding forest is an oasis in the city. Come and discover the area’s mature forests, lakes, and hiking opportunities. More wilderness could be protected here if only more people knew about the area’s conservation value, and what it will take to keep it wild.

“Join us for a 3 hour guided hike on the informal trails of the Jack Lake side (owned by Halifax Regional Municipality) of the proposed Sandy Lake – Sackville River Regional Park, where we’ll talk about and see the land that could be protected to bring the vision of a Sandy Lake – Sackville River Regional Park to fruition. You’ll also have a chance to learn about the plants, mosses, lichens, birds, insects, and more that inhabit the area.”

These hikes are co-hosted by the Ecology Action Centre, the Sandy Lake Conservation Association, and the Sandy Lake – Sackville River Regional Park Coalition.

Read more and register on EAC Website

(Cost: Free, but please register as space is limited)

– Short URL (link) for this page: http://goo.gl/ipYCR2

“By popular request”, I have posted a video incorporating the slides and accompanying audio of my Dec 6, 2018 presentation to the Sackville Rivers Association on YouTube. (I had previously posted a PDF of the slides; the video with audio is the “popular request” part. Thanks to Karen R for editing the audio.)

View: Natural History of the Forests and Surface Waters of Sandy Lake (Bedford, NS) & Environs (YouTube)
1 hr 9 mins. Links to 5 separate segments of the video are given below.

From the description for the talk:

Thurs Dec 6, 2018: A natural history perspective of the forests, wetlands and surface waters of Sandy Lake (Bedford) & Environs

Place & Time: 7pm at 45 Connolly Rd #206, Middle Sackville (the SRA offices)
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Place & Time: 7pm at 45 Connolly Rd #206, Middle Sackville (the SRA offices)

Description: As a volunteer contribution to the efforts of the Sandy Lake Conservation Association to protect the ecological integrity of Sandy Lake and environs, David Patriquin conducted extensive observations on plant communities and surface waters of Sandy Lake and environs (including the Jack Lake lands and lands around Sandy Lake and Marsh Lake) over the interval June 14, 2017 to the present. His objectives were “to describe ‘what you see on the ground’, identify significant ecological attributes of the area, and make some assessment of existing or potential threats to the ecological integrity of the area.” David will provide a virtual tour of Sandy Lake and Environs and present his major conclusions about what he now sees as a major ecological and recreational asset for HRM.

David retired from his position as Professor of Biology at Dalhousie University in 2008. Since then he has been active several natural history and hiking groups with a focus on the Chebucto Peninsula.

View PDF of slides