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16-17_NOCG 2006 trails 8/3/06 6:29 PM Page 2 Discover North Oakville's beautiful and bountiful heritage trail system. The trails pass through areas of natural beauty where wildlife still abounds, human activity has had little impact, or nature recovered after human use ceased or changed. They reconnect us to nature, reminding us we are not separate from but part of it. Lakes, creeks, watersheds, uplands, woods and meadows; air, land, water; other species we depend on them. The trails take us to historical places where farms and settlements began, enterprise flourished, neighbourhoods grew and institutions developed; where people individually and collectively shaped our town and our values. This article was complied as Oakville Beaver Community Editor, Wilma Blokhuis, took strolls with various people involved with the trails to form a series of articles that appeared in The Oakville Beaver. This series won several awards including the SNA Award for environmental writing, two Metroland Awards, two OCNA Awards and a CCNA Award. "Did you know Oakville has more than 120 kilometres of trails? That includes the 57kilometre Oakville Heritage Trails, five trails linking the town's existing trails system including Oakville's section of the Waterfront Trail running 17 kilometres." Heritage Trails, five trails linking the town's existing trails system including Oakville's section of the Waterfront Trail running 17 kilometres. And, let's not forget the trails at Bronte Creek Provincial Park ­ yes, this gem straddling Bronte Creek is officially part of Oakville. I started my trek on one of the smallest ­ yet prettiest ­ trails in town, in Creek Path Woods surrounded by the relatively new Shoreline Woods development. This trail seems to have it all ­ bridges, a boardwalk, trilliums, little blue-eyed grass, benches, tall trees and a babbling brook that runs into Sheldon Creek. I've also hiked with the South Peel Naturalists along a section of the Sixteen Mile Creek, one of the Heritage Trails. Because this group, armed with binoculars, notepads and pencils ­ hikes slowly, you see and appreciate much more of Oakville's natural beauty than if you jog or cycle. However, cycling along trails offers it's own unique experience. Most important is the need to stay on the trails to lessen the impact on the environment and not destroy any flora and fauna. In fact, hikers are always encouraged to stay on the trails ­ and watch out for poison ivy. Equally important ­ what you `pack in' you must `pack out' ­ in other words, don't litter. There's nothing more aggravating than to see people follow Oakville's CONTINUED ON PAGE 18