There’s no better way to uncover the natural treasures of your community than by creating an interpretive trail.
- Start by taking inventory of natural highlights in your area, keeping a wide range of interests in mind: say, a snag where pileated woodpeckers nest, a spot where Jack-in-the-pulpit comes up in spring, or a stream bed where rainbow trout spawn. At this stage, you will discover many natural wonders you hadn’t previously noticed in your community.
- Select a variety of points of interest — bird-feeding stations, natural springs, even places where humans have had a negative impact on the environment. Choose phenomena that people wouldn’t normally notice — signs of new life, decay, and renewal, how vegetation changes over time when succession turns a field into a forest. Remember, people will use your trail year-round, so try to highlight seasonal changes.
- Consider route and length. With 15 to 20 points of interest, a one or two-kilometre trail is more than long enough. Once you’ve chosen the route, describe the highlights on interpretive plaques at each point of interest or in a brochure corresponding to numbered posts or signs. Look for sponsors to help defray printing costs.
- Now for the dirty work. Parts of the trail will need raking or clearing. Make sure the beginning and end of the route are clearly marked and that sensitive features, such as rare plant and animal breeding areas, are identified and protected.