Do you know these trails?

Do you know these trails?
Exploring Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest, Surrey BC

The bright September sunshine poured through my office window as I tried to focus my attention on my work task list.  Bills, invoices and spreadsheets called out to me, yet I could not pass up the opportunity for an "outdoor break" to celebrate this glorious fall day.  Being short on time, I decided on a brisk walk in the neighbourhood.

True confession time - Rob and I are extremely spoiled.  We live within a hop, step and a jump of Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest, one of the City of Surrey's true gems.  This area was one of the first designated urban forests in Canada and is one of Surrey's largest parks.

Can you imagine an urban forest at your fingertips?  Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest Park is a 130 hectare natural second growth forest.  Douglas Fir, Vine Maple and Huckleberry bushes line the trails which are home to banana slugs, spotted towhees and the occasional black tailed deer.  If you look closely you can see a few stumps, remnants of the logging that took place in the early 1900's.  These stumps are now nurse stumps and support all kinds of new growth.

On this particular day, I was taking my time, strolling along Chickadee Loop when a couple approached me.  They were completely lost and attempting to make their way back to their car.  They asked me if I knew the trails.  Of course I was happy to help and confidently pointed them in the direction of the parking lot.

Did I know these trails?  The memories began to flood in.  As I continued walking, I began to reflect on how well I actually did know the trails and more importantly the joy the urban forest has brought our family.

We have been exploring Sunnyside Acres for over 23 years!  In the beginning, when our children were toddlers, our visits to the park were like expeditions.  We equipped ourselves with rain gear, sunhats, sunscreen, strollers (now called infant transportation systems) and of course SNACKS!  It would take us almost a full day to complete the 4 km loop!  We would stop to examine every slug, snail and tree stump that lay before us.

Our family, like the forest, grew and changed.  We transitioned from strollers and tricycles to running shoes and bicycles.  Our speed to complete the loop increased dramatically, yet each and every one of us still finds a sense of peace and calm when visiting the trails to stroll, walk, ride or run.

Over the years, we have participated in many community habitat restoration events in the park.  As a family we feel a sense of ownership, connectedness, pride and protectiveness for this very special place.  And so, YES - I DO know these trails and I sincerely hope many more families will come to appreciate them the way we do!

Giggle of the Day:

There is a downhill section of the trail that twists and turns as you gradually descend.  Looking at the terrain now, it does not seem like much, but 20 years ago it seemed quite steep.  At the time, our son would insist on riding his tricycle along this section of trail.  I could barely watch as he would remove his hands from the handlebars and take his feet off the peddles.  He would scream with glee as he barrelled along the trail.  I would shut my eyes, hold my breath and wait for either the sounds of a crash or the joyful sound of another successful ride.  I caught up to him after one particularly fast descent, and he looked up at me and exclaimed, "MOM - wouldn't it be great if the whole world was downhill!"


Map and Route Tips:

Thank you to the City of Surrey, the dedicated volunteers who make up the Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society and to those trailblazers in 1988 who asked the community "Do you want this area to be preserved?"

Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest Trail Map

Parking is available in a designated area - enter off 24th Ave.

And...check out this video featuring sounds from some of my favourite green spaces in Surrey.  EcoMUSICology & Surrey's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy

#truesurrey #explorebc #surreybc #family #discoveroutdoors #getoutside