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Fleetwood Creek Natural Area

Fleetwood Creek Natural Area is located on the north slope of the Oak Ridges Moraine within the City of Kawartha Lakes. This 370-hectare (916.4-acre) property features glacial features such as kames, kettles and drumlins that form the headwaters of Fleetwood Creek. The property has 8.2 km (5 miles) of hiking trails, a picnic area and several observation points. The property was purchased in several different parcels by the Ontario Heritage Trust between 1983 and 1985 with funds donated by Hilda Pangman in memory of her mother, Adelaide McLaughlin.

Public access

Kawartha Conservation maintains the 8.2 km (5 miles) of hiking trails on the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area. More information on the trails, facilities and hours of operations for this site ...

Map

Fleetwood Creek Natural Area is stewarded by Kawartha Conservation, with help from a number of conservation partners – including local landowners, not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions and the general public. In addition to assisting with the stewardship of the property, the stewards have provided an invaluable understanding of the biological values of the site.

Heritage value

Fleetwood Creek Natural Area is recognized as a provincially significant Earth and Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) due to the presence of high-quality glacial features, as well as the large variety of plants, animals and habitat types. It is a river valley system that contains lowland forests, hardwood bush, meadows and steep valleys.

Fleetwood Creek Natural Area is one of the most biologically rich locations on the Oak Ridges Moraine. It contains 11 recognized plant communities, over 250 kinds of plants and 44 types of birds – including wild turkey that were reintroduced into the region during the 1980s. Species at risk have been observed on the property, too, including the red-headed woodpecker, bobolink, snapping turtle, butternut and several others.

There are two registered archaeological sites on this property – the largest one being an ancestral Wendat village dating to early European contact.


Photo gallery

  • Orange mushrooms at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
    Orange mushrooms at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
  • The viewing platform on the valley trail at Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
    The viewing platform on the valley trail at Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
  • Trillium at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
    Trillium at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
  • Mayapple at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
    Mayapple at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
  • Morel near the trail at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
    Morel near the trail at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
  • Bioblitz at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area in 2019
    Bioblitz at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area in 2019
  • Monarch butterfly on a branch at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
    Monarch butterfly on a branch at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
  • Spring peeper at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
    Spring peeper at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
  • Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
    Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
  • Snapping turtle at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
    Snapping turtle at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
  • Follow the valley forest trail at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
    Follow the valley forest trail at the Fleetwood Creek Natural Area
  • Walking stick bug on a staff person at Kawartha Conservation
    Walking stick bug on a staff person at Kawartha Conservation

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