Birds Hill Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Birds Hill Provincial Park is a provincial park
in Manitoba
, Canada
. It is located 24 kilometres north of Winnipeg
on Highway 59, (50°01′28"N 96°53′01"W) and covers approximately 8300 acres (35.1 square kilometres). The area (and park) is named after Dr. Curtis Bird, first speaker of the Manitoba provincial legislature in 1873, whose father had been a factor in the Hudson's Bay Company
. Since the area is higher than the surrounding terrain, what is now Birds Hill Park served early settlers as a refuge from flooding in the years 1826 and 1852. It is part of the RM of Springfield, with a relatively small portion lying within the Rural Municipality of St. Clements.
The provincial park features a mixture of aspen
and oak
forest with open prairie/savannah
, spruce, bog areas and mixed boreal forest communities, not commonly found so close together.
The park has a large campground, a horse stable
, and many trail
s designed for hiking
, biking and horseback riding. An artificial lake of approximately 80 acres (30 ha) with four miles of shoreline supports swimming and water recreation.
The park was formed from land expropriated from 150 local landowners in 1964. The official opening date was marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony by Manitoba premier Duff Roblin on July 15, 1967.
Every July since 1974, the park has been the site of the Winnipeg Folk Festival
. In September 1984, the park hosted Pope John Paul II
during his visit to Manitoba.
The north section of the park is designated as a wilderness area, with no development of any kind. Most of the park once formed an island and shorelines at the end of the last ice age. The soil is very sandy, and the area has many stunted oak trees. There are many gravel pits that surround the park. Birds Hill Park provides one of the largest concentrations of white tailed deer in North America. The Birds Hill upland (including the Park) supports Canada's largest population of Western Silvery Aster, a species protected under federal and provincial Endangered Species laws.
The park contains a small cemetery
where many of the early settlers of the area are buried.
Provincial park
A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...
in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located 24 kilometres north of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
on Highway 59, (50°01′28"N 96°53′01"W) and covers approximately 8300 acres (35.1 square kilometres). The area (and park) is named after Dr. Curtis Bird, first speaker of the Manitoba provincial legislature in 1873, whose father had been a factor in the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
. Since the area is higher than the surrounding terrain, what is now Birds Hill Park served early settlers as a refuge from flooding in the years 1826 and 1852. It is part of the RM of Springfield, with a relatively small portion lying within the Rural Municipality of St. Clements.
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
forest with open prairie/savannah
Savannah
Savannah or savanna is a type of grassland.It can also mean:-People:* Savannah King, a Canadian freestyle swimmer* Savannah Outen, a singer who gained popularity on You Tube...
, spruce, bog areas and mixed boreal forest communities, not commonly found so close together.
Overview
Stable
A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals...
, and many trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s designed for hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, biking and horseback riding. An artificial lake of approximately 80 acres (30 ha) with four miles of shoreline supports swimming and water recreation.
The park was formed from land expropriated from 150 local landowners in 1964. The official opening date was marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony by Manitoba premier Duff Roblin on July 15, 1967.
Every July since 1974, the park has been the site of the Winnipeg Folk Festival
Winnipeg Folk Festival
The Winnipeg Folk Festival is a summer folk music festival held in Birds Hill Provincial Park, near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It features a variety of folk artists from all around the world, as well as a number of local folk performers....
. In September 1984, the park hosted Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
during his visit to Manitoba.
The north section of the park is designated as a wilderness area, with no development of any kind. Most of the park once formed an island and shorelines at the end of the last ice age. The soil is very sandy, and the area has many stunted oak trees. There are many gravel pits that surround the park. Birds Hill Park provides one of the largest concentrations of white tailed deer in North America. The Birds Hill upland (including the Park) supports Canada's largest population of Western Silvery Aster, a species protected under federal and provincial Endangered Species laws.
The park contains a small cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
where many of the early settlers of the area are buried.