#21: Healthy
Communities protect Natural Places
The
Rosedale
Farm Trail
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Manitoba has a
great variety of hiking trails. They vary from rough and
natural to manicured and meticluous. They are all great places.
The Rosedale Farm has many notable advantages and comes with a great
origin story. It is much more than just a trail - its a living example
of a land reclamation project.
The Trail is located 5 miles west of Eden on Rosedale Farm.
In the 1960’s it
became apparent that traditional farming practices were not sustainable
on these slopes of the Maniotba Escarpment.
The
municipality sought help from the Province. The government
responded by purchasing the eroded land allowing the land owners to
move to land better suited to grain farming.
The SE and NW of 23-16-16W were purchased in 1966 and was used to test
and demonstrate practical solutions to the erosion problem. In 1971 the
NE quarter was added.
In 2010, a group of local citizens established an all-season foot trail
through the farm property. The trail passes through a variety of
vegetation and topography and offers stunning views to the east of the
Riding Mountain Escarpment. Interpretive signage helps to explain the
history and features of the farm.
First some 200,000 trees were planted over three years. Two small dams
were built in 1969. Also in 1969 the first forage crop, 10,600 bales
were taken from 159 acres
In 1977 the Whitemud Conservation District took over the farm,
demonstrating good management practices to landowners in the area and
visitors from across Canada. Everyone is welcome to tour the farm.
The
signage is informative as to history...
And as to directions.
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It is obvious
that the site is well cared for. The trails are well marked, the rules
are clear.
It is no
coincidence that we found not a single Bud Lite can on our hike,
and the signs havn't been vandalized by shotgun fire.
A variation of
the "corduroy road"
A sturdy
picnic table - near a great lookout.
![](21.Rosedale/Bridge1.jpg)
A great variety of trees.
![](21.Rosedale/TreesSun.jpg)
The
Rosedale Farm Trail is a fine example of best practices in the site
selection, design and maintenance of a hiking trail.
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