Nestled in the urban landscape of Durham Region, along the shores of Lake Ontario, lies a remarkable treasure: Thickson’s Woods Nature Reserve. Spanning 10.8 hectares, this transit accessible green space, vital migratory stopover for birds, and haven for biodiversity, has officially become Ontario Nature’s 27th nature reserve. After decades of dedicated stewardship and protected by Thickson’s Woods Land Trust, the property has been transferred to Ontario Nature, securing its permanent protect for generations to come.
Supporting approximately 75 rare and at-risk species, Thickson’s Woods is a living reminder of the importance of protecting nature where people live, work and play. As development continues to transform our landscapes, preserving places like Thickson’s Woods is essential to safeguarding biodiversity and securing ecological corridors.
The story of Thickson’s Woods is one of community action, perseverance and a shared commitment to protecting nature.
In 1983, a developer purchased and logged part of the property, raising concerns among local naturalists about the future of this irreplaceable forest. In response, a dedicated group came together to establish Thickson’s Woods Heritage Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization later renamed Thickson’s Woods Land Trust. Their efforts led to the purchase of a 6.51 hectare parcel to protect the forest containing old growth white pines. Then, between 2001 and 2009 the property was further expanded, resulting in what we know today as Thickson’s Woods.
Through these determined efforts, Thickson’s Woods was preserved for wildlife, and for more than four decades, Thickson’s Woods Land Trust has nurtured this remarkable property, protecting its ecological integrity. “We’re confident that Ontario Nature’s long legacy of stewardship will continue to protect Thickson’s Woods, and that it will provide nature enthusiasts – birders, botanists and others – with access to the reserve forever,” says Dan Shire, Vice President of Thickson’s Woods Land Trust.
Now, by entrusting the property to Ontario Nature, this transfer represents the continuation of a conservation legacy built by local advocates whose vision and dedication ensured that this treasure would be protected for generations to come.
Despite its relatively small size, Thickson’sWoods Nature Reservecontains diverse habitats which make it an ecological hotspot. The nature reserve encompasses mixed forest, open meadow, a provincially significant wetland and 400 meters of Lake Ontario shoreline.
One of the nature reserves‘ most significant features is its mature white pine forest; considered the last remnant old growth white pines along the north shore of Lake Ontario. Once prized for their towering trunks and logged for the masts of British Royal Navy sailing ships, these trees are a rare living connection to a landscape that has largely disappeared.
The surrounding meadow and wetland habitats further enrich the property’s biodiversity.
During spring and fall migration, the forest comes alive with movement and songs of birds, including colourful warblers that delight birders of all ages and experience levels. The combination of woodland, meadow, wetlandand shoreline habitat makes the property especially valuable to species that depend on suitable stopover sites to rest and replenish their energy after a long journey. “Karen and I were novice birders when we made our first trip to Thickson’sWoods in the mid-1990s” says Dan Shire. “We arrived on a spring morning after a rainy night and discovered what a migratory fallout meant.Walking out of the woods onto a laneway we were greeted by four brilliant scarlet tanagers having a bath in a puddle.That experience helped launch our deep interest in birding and commitment to nature conservation”.This property is an invaluable natural refuge and important componentof the region’s ecological habitat.
Beyond its ecological importance, the protection of Thickson’s Woods presents an exciting opportunity to become a hub for environmental education, youth engagement, and nature appreciation across the GTA. Natural areas such as this can provide valuable settings for supporting conservation research, stewardship, ecological monitoring and community outreach. Community outreach will further expand the nature reserve’s impact. Ontario Nature staff foresee nature walks, seasonal birdwatching events, youth workshops, and public education programs that can bring youth, volunteers, families and young adults together from across the GTA. These events wouldprovide an excellent opportunity to discover the ecological significance of the property and become more involved in protecting local natural areas.
One of the most important opportunities presented through this acquisition is the potential to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. Creating welcoming and inclusive opportunities for nature appreciation is part of this vision. By offering activities suited for different ages, interests and levels of experience, Thickson’s Woods Nature Reserve can help make conservation more approachable for young people who may have had limited opportunities to engage directly with nature.
By connecting people with local biodiversity and meaningful opportunities, Ontario Nature will ensure that the value of Thickson’s Woods extends well beyond its 10.8 hectares. Its lasting impact will be measured not by only the habitat it protects, but by the minds it inspires, the connections it builds, and the future conservation leaders it will help nurture.
The permanent protection of Thickson’s Woods was made possible through the generous support of the Estate of Hazel May Broker, the Echo Foundation, the Ontario Conservation Accelerator, The Zita and Mark Bernstein Family Foundation, and Thickson’s Woods Land Trust — alongside many dedicated Ontario Nature members.
Tharanya is the Nature Reserves Stewardship Coordinator at Ontario Nature. Prior to working at Ontario Nature, Tharanya worked at Conservation Halton, Hamilton Conservation Authority, Toronto Region Conservation Authority, and Ontario Streams. She has a B.A. in bio-resource management (majored in Environmental Management) from the University of Guelph and has completed the ecosystem restoration program at Niagara College. Tharanya is proficient at Ecological Land Classification, Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network, habitat restoration, species at risk monitoring and invasive species management. She enjoys exploring the outdoors and trying out new food spots all over the GTA with friends and family.
Along with our partners, we aim to secure the property and transfer it to Garden River First Nation – modeling ground breaking, Indigenous-led conservation.
