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The Dufferin County Forest
is a 1,050 hectare (2,596 acre) area divided into twelve tracts located
throughout the County. The Forest is owned and managed by the County of Dufferin. The largest single area is
the Main Tract (607 hectares/1,501 acres) located in Mulmur
Township north of the hamlet of Mansfield.
A map of
the tracts can be found here.
Each of the County
Forest tracts has its
own special features. Of particular note are:
Main Tract
- largest of the County Forest tracts
- extensive
system of recreational trails which are in the process of being marked
and mapped
- large variety
of tree species, including red pine, white pine, white spruce, sugar maple,
white ash, beech, red oak, ironwood, butternut, and many others
- habitat for
many different animals including white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, wild
turkeys, porcupine, and a variety of songbirds
- a provincially
recognized Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, the Oak Ridges South
Slope Forest
Randwick Tract
- second largest
of the County
Forest tracts
- dominated by
red pine plantations which are gradually succeeding to tolerant
hardwoods such as sugar maple, white ash, and beech
- extensive
trail system for recreational activities
Little Tract
- has a two
kilometre interpretive trail with nine stops describing general forest
facts; get the interpretive brochure here
- only a small
portion has been logged since the County bought it in 1971
- has been
designated as "natural area" which means no resource
extraction and only low impact recreation, allowing the existing forest
(large white pine and hardwoods) to continue natural development toward
"old growth" and beyond
- a sawmill
existed beside the creek and the clearing near Airport Road had homes for loggers
in 1870
Leening Tract
- was donated to
the County by Marjorie Leening on condition that it be used for
"conservation purposes"
- in accordance
with the designation, there is no resource extraction permitted in this
tract and no trails have been cleared for recreational use
Mono Tract
- third largest
of the County
Forest tracts
- tree cover
includes red pine and white spruce plantations
- two major
trails run in an east-west direction through the tract
- adjacent to
Mono Cliffs Park, a provincial park located on the Niagara Escarpment (a
World Biosphere Reserve)
Riverview and Melancthon
Tracts
- both tracts are
mostly made up of provincially recognized wetlands
- some trails
for recreation activities and wetland exploration
- wildlife
includes beavers, raccoons, bullfrogs, muskrats, white-tailed deer, and
numerous species of waterfowl
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