West Perth Thames Trail

A nature trail for pleasure walkers, joggers, hikers & bird-watchers. Accessible for baby strollers, motorized scooters and wheelchairs. The trail is a photographer's paradise, from the Mill Pond through to the woodlands and the West Perth Wetlands. Located along the banks of the north branch of the Thames River, in the urban/rural amalgamated Municipality of West Perth, Ontario, Canada.

In the mid 1990's, members of MAEG (Mitchell and Area Environment Group) raised concerns about the meadows, wild life corridors and wetlands along the North Branch of the Thames River that were being eliminated. After a public meeting, it was recommended to council that a Committee to address environmental concerns be created. Thus, it was that in 1998 that the Township of West Perth Council created the West Perth Energy and Environment Committee.

The nature trail features over 10 km of varied levels of difficulty, from the wheelchair accessible north and middle section to the more rugged and natural scenic southern section. Most of the trail is in the urban ward of Mitchell, while the West Perth Wetlands are located in the rural Ward of Fullarton Township.

The Wetlands project involves the reclamation of three decommissioned sewage lagoons that served the Town of Mitchell prior to installation of the present sewage treatment plant. These lagoons will be restored to a natural state as wetlands and shorebird habitat. The area encompassed is approximately 24ha. or 60 acres.

Perth County is particularly devoid of wetland marsh. At present only 0.03% of Perth County is available to waterfowl as wetland marsh. Although the West Perth project will almost double the present available habitat, more projects of this nature need to be instituted throughout the county.

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