Orono Crown Lands

Submitted by: Jason Kay

Hike reference: 10.8 km Orono Crown Lands

Summary of information taken from the Orono Crown Lands website: The Orono Crown Lands was a reforestation project, initiated as a tree nursery in 1922, to help counteract the agricultural land-clearing that had been the norm for many decades.

This particular site was chosen due to its proximity to the railroad, water and a labour force. Forestry became a major employer in the area. 

Seedlings were grown and subsequently shipped throughout the province to help refurbish areas that had become barren due to clear-cutting and fire. 

At its peak in the 1950s, about 7.5 million seedlings were shipped annually.

The lands were also used for forest research projects.

By the late 1900s, demand for seedlings waned and the Orono Forestry closed in 1996

Soon after, the province began selling parcels of the land to private interests. Concerned locals formed a partnership/trust with the province to ultimately retain and oversee the conservation of 633 acres.

In addition to the abandoned nursery production beds, the lands we’ll see on our hike also include natural forested areas, portions of Wilmot and Orono Creeks, a decommissioned railway line and an abandoned canal.

The railway line on the berm was built in 1911-1912 and was operated by the Canadian Northern Railway. It ceased operation in 1946.

The Linton Tract at the south end of the Orono Crown Lands is named after George Meredith “Med” Linton who established the Orono Provincial Forestry in 1922. He was superintendent for 39 years.