WREN FORD, ON — June 15, 2026 — The City of Wrenford today announced the completion of the Benchlands Lookout Park natural area restoration project, a multi-phase effort to return 1.2 hectares of land along the edge of the Corvid Creek Ravine to its natural state.
Crews from the Parks & Trails team spent the past eight months removing invasive buckthorn and garlic mustard, grading the soil, and planting 450 native shrubs and trees, including red osier dogwood, gray dogwood, black ash, and silver maple. The project also included installing 800 metres of permeable gravel pathways to prevent soil erosion and improve safe access for visitors.
“Restoring this section of the ravine gives local wildlife a stronger corridor to move through the city, and it helps manage stormwater runoff before it reaches the Tamsin River,” said Maya Chen-Watson, Parks Planner. “You will notice a big difference in the plant life and the quiet trails this fall.”
The project is part of the city's Natural Areas Management Plan, a ten-year strategy to protect and restore ecological function in parks and ravines. It was funded through the City of Wrenford Capital Plan and a $600,000 grant from the Provincial Natural Infrastructure Fund.
You can explore the restored area using the new pathways. The City asks residents to stay on marked trails to protect the young root systems. For updates on park projects or to report a maintenance issue, visit Parks & Trails.
Learn more about how the city manages and protects natural spaces at Learn about park natural areas.