#forestregeneration

Yesterday I was out for my regular Sunday run (for those keep track of my half-marathon training, this was my first 10k of the season, and the distance only grows from here!) and in a desire to escape the frigid winds, I took myself to the tree-enclosed Beltline for it.

For those of you that don't know, the belt-line is a 9km hiking and cycling trail that consists of the York Beltline, Key Gardiner Beltline, and Ravine Beltline. All in all, it's a great trail that'll take you to the Evergreen Brickworks and beyond, depending on how energetic you're feeling. I fell in love with the Beltline when I moved to Davisville. It's a beautiful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and with ample accessible from multiple major intersections, including the Mount Pleasant Cemetery which I also frequent. On any given day it is filled with dogs, kids, cyclists, runners, and nature enthusiasts alike. I personally visit it multiple times a week for runs and long walks with Dakota (he, too, fell in love with the Beltline from the moment his big paws stepped foot onto the dusty trail, so we make a point to go often).

Over the last year, many parts of the forest and trail have been closed off to allow for forest regeneration and reconstruction of the quarry, and while much of it has reopened again allowing you to make your way into the Evergreen Brickworks, the trail is still lined with signs and temporary fencing with very clear signs that dictate you stay on the trail. While out running, I kept coming across groups of people blatantly ignoring those signs and allowed themselves into the forest. I watched parents lift their toddlers over them and encourage their older children to do the same. I even saw someone remove part of the fence entirely to casually stroll through. How entitled. Forest regeneration isn't as easy as planting some new seeds and throwing down some dirt and with construction in Toronto showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, it is crucial that we respect our existing green spaces and allow them the time needed to properly regenerate. It's not just for aesthetics. These forests are home to many plants and species that rely on a prosperous environment to thrive. The rivers, ponds, and ravines all benefit from the growth of new trees. If we're not careful, we could destroy the existing ecosystem entirely, and then when your toddlers become adults, they wont be able to enjoy the quiet escape that is the Beltline Trail with their own friends, children and pets. The thought of that, to me, is devastating. Please obey the signs and stay on the existing trails; they're just as pretty as the forest, I promise you.