Winnipeg's urban forest and natural areas
Winnipeg is lucky to have a large urban forest and many significant natural areas within our city limits. The City of Winnipeg is responsible for managing and protecting the trees and natural areas on public lands. If you’re interested in learning more about our urban forest or natural areas, here are some links to follow.Urban Forest
The Urban Forestry Branch is responsible for all aspects of modern urban forestry in Winnipeg. Please visit their Web site for a full description of the services they carry out and for more information on Winnipeg’s urban forest.
Natural Areas
The Naturalist Services Branch is responsible for the protection and management of ecologically significant natural areas within the City of Winnipeg. For more information, please visit their Web site.
The Living Prairie Museum, located at 2795 Ness Avenue, is a 12 hectare (30acre) tall grass prairie preserve, and is one of the last remaining fragments of the tall-grass prairie ecosystem. Set aside in 1968, this preserve is home to over 160 species of prairie plants and a great array of prairie wildlife. Located at 2795 Ness Avenue, the prairie and the attached Interpretive Centre offer visitors a chance to experience the tall-grass prairie.
It is unusual to find a forest within a city, but Winnipeg has one, complete with a herd of white -tailed deer. This unique park is Assiniboine Forest Park located between Chalfont Avenue and Shaftesbury Boulevard. Situated close to a bus route, Assiniboine Forest offers a quiet place to escape the city in order to relax and enjoy nature.
If you’re interested in learning how you can bring a little piece of the natural world to your garden, you might be interested in Naturescape Manitoba. This book includes information on native species and project ideas and is designed to help organizations and individuals transform small urban and rural areas, including backyards, into wildlife habitat.
Ecologically Significant Natural Lands Strategy
Ecologically significant lands contain important pockets of natural flora and fauna. In order to identify, assess, protect and manage ecologically significant areas, Council adopted the Ecologically Significant Natural Lands Strategy in February 2007. Tbis plan designates natural areas that are ecologically significant and provides measures for the possible acquisition, preservation, protection and maintenance of such lands.