Wild Child: Explore a natural space (Medway Valley)

Where will you explore this week? We’ve pulled together some resources for a week of outdoor adventures. This week we focus on the Medway Valley Heritage forest.

This space is large, and filled with different areas to explore, visit a new section each day or spend a day exploring them all. To add some structure to you adventure bring a favourite snack or book or download one of our scavenger hunts at the bottom of this post.

Check the map

Check out this map for all the entry points. The first page provides some information about the Environmental Significant Area (ESA) and the second has a detailed map.

What kind of adventure are you looking for?

Start at Access #8 (Sunningdale Rd) for a paved walk along the river with natural spaces on either side.

Entrance 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 (just north of Fanshawe Park Rd) lead to an area frequented by beavers. These paved trails also follow the river with lots of animal evidence on either side of the pathway.

Entrance 3 (enter though a pathway between houses) leads to a green grassy space and a steep forested hill overlooking the river perfect for lots of running.

Entrance 1, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 20 lead to forested dirt trails. This area is best explored on foot and has lots of shallow creek sections filled with fish, frogs, and crayfish.

Entrance 18 and 19 take you through a meadow and beside the river. These trails are a combination of board walk, paved, and dirt but are fairly broad and level and easily navigated with a stroller. There are smaller sections of shallow creek and forested trail as well. This space has lots of flat areas that are great for a picnic.

Entrance 17 has a narrow and winding dirt trail that is steep at sections and leads to some wooden stairs. It provides a great look out on the river from high above.