Northumberland Forest

Contributions by: Jason Kay and Anita Lautenbach

Hike references: various

Beginning in the mid-1700s, European settlers began clearing the area of trees, leading to widespread deforestation that lasted nearly 200 years. Tall white pines were harvested for ship mast and vast tracts of land were cleared for agriculture. This extensive purging, particularly on the sandy soils of the Oak Ridges Moraine, led to significant problems such as erosion and flooding. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, much of the forest cover was depleted.

Concerns about deforestation emerged as early as the 1870s, but large-scale action gained momentum in the early 20th century. In 1910, Northumberland County sought provincial funding for reforestation, which led to the creation of the Reforestation Act in 1921. Under this act, Northumberland County began purchasing lands. The official establishment of the Northumberland County Forest is marked by the purchase of 1,011 acres in 1924 through a Provincial Forest Agreement between the United Counties of Durham and Northumberland. Since then, approximately four million trees have been planted.

Initially, the forest was managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. However, in 2000, Northumberland County assumed full management of the forest. The forest has since grown to span approximately 2,235 hectares (5,524 acres).

The Northumberland Forest is now a vital ecological resource. Its restoration efforts have transformed a once barren landscape into a flourishing forest, supporting diverse wildlife and native habitats. It is managed for ecological conservation, recreation, and timber harvesting. Ongoing efforts focus on habitat restoration, converting conifer plantations to more natural biodiverse forests, and removing invasive species.

The Jackson Trail is among the areas in the forest benefitting from attention. Forest managers have overseen a prescribed burn, planted native species, including a red oak perimeter that will protect the sandy soil. It is a natural habitat for hog-nose snakes and endangered birds.