Popular hiking spot Sifton Bog expands to include more trails

A larger area of the Sifton Bog is now open to the public after the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) bought about 18 acres from a regional developer.

The expanded area of the popular hiking destination, on the south side of Oxford Street, offers a buffer between urban development to the east and the big site, said Brandon Williamson, UTRCA's land management co-ordinator. 

"This is such a gem feature in London that it's important to round it out," said Jamie Crich, president of Auburn Developments, which along with Drewlo Holdings owned the land previously. 

The new area is open to the public from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. It is free to enter. 

The new owners plan to preserve the area for the long term and its ecological value, said Williamson.

"We're going to take this land and protect it, and enhance it as well," he said. "We will remove some invasive species, and do some native species naturalization to this property as well."

There are owls, white tail deer and wetland features such as a soft maple swamp and an upland hardwood forest toward the back side of the property, Williamson said.

"To have this property here, sort of acts as a bit of a natural buffer to the Sifton Bog," he said. 

A bigger space for Londonders to enjoy

The Sifton Bog's boardwalk is only 370 metres long, which leads from the parking lot at Oxford Street to Redmond's Pond at the centre of the bog. 

There are now more paths that continue south so more residents can connect their way through the whole bog, said Ward 8 Coun. Steve Lehman. "There's a big system of trails down there," said Lehman. 

"[Residents] can come up here and enjoy the boardwalk area… We can do the boardwalk and then go down and explore the trails down there, and discover what a beautiful nature preserve the Sifton Bog is."

It's an important part of London's urban ecosystem, he added. 

"You come and you see how special this is, it gives you a different perspective," said Lehman.

Mental health benefits

Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Utah published a study that found that walking in nature is good for one's mental health and ability to focus. "There's lots of mental health benefits about people getting out into nature as well and walking the trails in these areas," said Williamson. 

"That's a huge benefit for Londoners."