The Copeland Forest Friends: Looking after the Forest for the Ministry of Natural Resources for all the user groups

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Copeland Forest Friends

6 hours ago

Copeland Forest Friends
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM CFFAAt the beginning of the summer Horseshoe Valley Resort (HVR) had installed routing signs on some of the trails at the south end of the forest in the vicinity of the Nordic Centre. These signs are to provide directions to kids in the bike camps and novice riders who are renting bikes from HVR to prevent these riders from getting lost. HVR is allowed to install signs in the forest as per their agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources. Recently someone has removed some of these installed signs. This is very unfortunate and seems to be a growing trend regarding signage in the forest and in our larger community. Please respect these signs and do not remove them. They are located in only a small portion of the forest.Also as a reminder Copeland Forest access through the Nordic Centre is not a public right. Forest access at this location is possible only with HVR's permission as they own this land. Please respect this and support the resort. ... See MoreSee Less

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Copeland Forest Friends

1 week ago

Copeland Forest Friends
FROM THE GARLIC MUSTARD TEAMMassive Thanks to ALL who pulled Garlic Mustard in the CopelandWe faced an avalanche of Garlic Mustard this spring. Our one priority area has always been the deciduous uplands where an exceptional diversity of spring ephemerals, trees and animals thrive. We cleared our targeted locations there of the invasive, filled thecompost bins to overflowing and built new bins to reduce uphill carrying. Our goal was always to contain and reduce Garlic Mustard, not eradicate it. We are seeing Success in four ways. 1. After seven years of Continual pulling some satellite spots have fewer plants, one has disappeared entirely. 2. Trail side groupings have not spread any further into the forest 3. Observation tells us that native plants have increased in pulled locations. 4. Volunteers take their skills home, tell their neighbours and quickly this knowledge of how to combat the threat of Garlic Mustard spreads.The Copeland Forest Friends want to thank the Coordinator of the Garlic Mustard project, Margaret Kennedy, and the Team Leaders who organized and inspired people to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature while they pulled the predator plant. The leaders are: Nancy Chong, Carol Strickland, Sue Benjafield, Bernd Widenhorn, Jarka Rezek, and Bill Wells.Huge gratitude also goes to all the volunteers. Your energy and your comraderies, whether you came once or ten times, added to our total success.We also value the enormous contribution of local organizations to our conservation effort. They are: Ganaraska Hiking Trail clubs of Orillia and Oro-Medonte; Georgian Bay Hunters and Anglers; Severn Sound Environmental Association; the AnglicanChurches of St. Johns, Craighurst and St Pauls, Midhurst.We’ll be putting a wrap on Garlic Mustard endeavors for 2026, although some of us may get a head start and pull young Garlic Mustard plants amidst the fall mushrooms.In the fall as well, we look forward to meeting with the Friend’s new Naturalist Chair, Kim Kosari and with Patrick Jackson, head of Invasive Species.Thank you to everyone for making the Copeland Forest more healthy.Photos below: Just visualize the forest plants breathing before and after Maureen and Harry removed Garlic Mustard. Photo by Nancy Chong, Pine Ridge area. ... See MoreSee Less

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Copeland Forest Friends

3 weeks ago

Copeland Forest Friends
Since the early July wind storm the CFFA "old timers" trail crew has been out clearing fallen trees in the forest. Areas cleared of trees include: near Post 15, near P2, 3rd Line, north of the Heights, Ricky Bobby trail and the Pine Ridge Trail connector. If you see trees down, please let us know at info@copelandfriends.ca. ... See MoreSee Less

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Copeland Forest Friends

4 weeks ago

Copeland Forest Friends

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Download the Trails Map

Download our map of all the major trails in the Copeland Forest

 Copeland Forest Friends

The Copeland Forest is a 4,400 acre Resource Management Area in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada, owned by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests.The size, beauty, and unfettered use of the forest by a wide variety of recreational users inspired an initiative to conserve the natural integrity of the forest and facilitate compatible recreational use.

In October 2015 the Copeland Forest Friends Association formed a Non-Profit Corporation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the MNRF, and began offering memberships. The organization has been structured to ensure that all of the major recreational user groups are represented equally. There are many ways to join us including becoming a member, volunteering, making a donation, and signing up for our newsletter. We look forward to seeing you in the forest!