Cold Creek Forest and Wildlife Area has been one of the best kept secrets in King Township and York Region for the past 16 years.

Cold Creek recently received a shot of vitality with agreement from the King Township Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture to manage and operate the site for Toronto
Region and Conservation (TRCA). Just this spring the Cold Creek Stewardship Collaborative, composed of the Township, the Stewardship and TRCA also received an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant to restore the site and underwrite education and recreational programmes over the next three years.

The Cold Creek Stewardship has been working since its 2003 inception to restore the Forest and Wildlife Area for the enjoyment and education of the public while protecting the natural
resources. As a result of the recent Trillium grant the Township has repaired the bog boardwalk, added a new steel roof to the historic barn and has begun replacing services to the
two buildings for future public use. King Township’s Department of Parks Recreation and Culture will be offering children’s education and recreation
programmes in Cold Creek this summer (www.king.ca) as existed in the 1970s and 1980s.

In the fall the Stewardship replaced the Visitors Centre roof with new steel sheeting and over winter initiated a survey of the conifer bog and hardwood forests. Other woodlots within Cold Creek will be surveyed
through the summer. Tree species composition, size classes and density are now recorded and will become targets for future forestation projects. The bird nesting programme is active
again this spring with many species returning to boxes established last year by the Stewardship and TRCA. Last year over 70% occupancy of
nesting boxes by songbirds and water birds was recorded.

The Stewardship hosted its third annual Cold Creek Day on June 9th with the Honourable Greg Sorbara MPP joining the Ontario Trillium Foundation presentation of the recent grant to the Cold Creek Stewardship Collaborative. Over 500 guests enjoyed a birds-of-prey demonstration, retrievers running trial exercises, police dogs demonstrating search and rescue techniques and many other environmental groups promoting their programmes. A special photo fair provided many of the youngsters the opportunity to display their favourite digital nature photo of Cold Creek and post it for all to see the rest of the day.

The evening of August 24 Cold Creek trails will be flashing with headlights and multicoloured Turtle lites as the 5
Peaks – NocTerra night time Fun Run gets underway (www.5Peaks.com). The course will be marked with glow sticks to guide the runners through the forested hills and ravines. Registration is open to those who can echo locate and have no fear of strange noises in the night – but sign up early as participation will be limited.

Cold Creek Stewardship is looking forward to an exciting summer and fall and invites all who enjoy exploring forest trails and our newly opened conifer bog boardwalk to visit the natural wonder of this Forest and
Wildlife Area. Cold Creek is 3.5 km north of King Road on the 11th concession between Nobleton and Bolton. Visit www.ColdCreek.org for more information on the site and how
to support the Stewardship.