Wildwood Pit Letterbox Letterbox Hybrid

This cache has been archived.

CacheShadow: The cache owner should contact me via my profile page if they wish to discuss if this cache page can be Unarchived.
(All outstanding issues would need to be addressed in compliance with the current Geocaching Guidelines).
CacheShadow - Community Volunteer Reviewer

More
Hidden : 4/29/2006
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

Welcome to Wildwood Conservation Area!

You can enter through the Conservation Area ($5. entrance fee) and learn about the reclaimed gravel pit along a trail marked with interpretive signs (this would be a hike over 10 km; follow the orange trail), or you can park at the dead end of 27th Line (N 43 15.016, W 081 01.835) and follow a nature trail for a scenic walk along the shores of Wildwood Lake, a hike of just under 2 km. (To extend this hike, park at the bridge at 29th Line).
It's also possible to park near the cottagers' entrance (N 43 15.401, W 081 03.056) and meet up with the interpretive trail (orange blazes) just inside the gate.

Wildwood gravel pit was opened to extract material for the construction of the nearby Wildwood Dam in the 1960’s. The restoration was started in the early 1990’s by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority with additional funding from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The gravel pit has been regenerating on its own for more than 20 years, since the mid 1970’s. The ecosystem that existed here prior to gravel extraction was northern hardwood forest. Conditions vary across the site due to the lack of topsoil and nutrients, ground water seepage in deepened areas, and gravel mounds left behind during extraction. Some goals for this restoration project are: expanding and deepening the pond to create permanent habitat for wetland species, planting deciduous tree and wildflower species to add to the uniqueness of the site, and creating an interpretive trail through the area for the local community to use and enjoy. To date, biologists have recorded approximately 115 plant species in the pit, including two plants not found anywhere else in Oxford County, as well as many plants not found elsewhere in the surrounding Conservation Area.
Some unique aspects of this project make this restoration interesting. First, the area has been left to naturalize for 20 years after gravel extraction ceased before restoration efforts were begun. Second, the presence of relatively rare plants is interesting, especially since they are not found in the surrounding area. This leads to the possibility there were pockets of refugial populations left on the site. This aspect could be taken advantage of by the restorationists to create a more diverse flora more quickly. (Christine LeMay, University of Minnesota)

Keep your eyes peeled for wild turkeys in here. I've come across a few.

This is a letterbox, and as such, contains no trading items. Please stamp the book with your stamp. There are two stamp pads in the cache for your use. If you have no stamp, get a little creative! There are crayons in the cache for drawings or leaf rubbings, and the stamp pads could be used for toe prints, or nose prints…

Please leave my stamp in the cache! It's there for avid letterboxers to stamp their own letterbox books.

Have fun!

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



Attributes

No attributes available

Advertising with Us