Decades of disputes ended. Parc-nature du Bois-de-Saraguay finally opened to the public on June 2 2016. This 93-hectare nature park sits near Gouin Boulevard. It is considered the oldest forest on the island.
Parc-nature du Bois-de-Saraguay boasts incredible biodiversity. It has 35 tree species and 45 shrub types. You can find 275 herbaceous plant species. Birdwatchers will be thrilled. The park is home to about 80 bird species.
The Montreal Urban Community acquired the land in 1981. The acquisition included three heritage buildings adding to the park’s charm.
Andre Bouchard of the Jardin botanique de Montreal said something interesting. He said the campaign to conserve Bois-de-Saraguay was a catalyst. It spurred the creation of the regional parks network. This network later became Montreal’s “grands parcs”.
Parc-nature du Bois-de-Saraguay is part of the Coulée verte du ruisseau Bertrand. It is also one of Montreal’s ten Écoterritoires.
There are 1.8 kilometers of walking trails here. These trails do not loop back. You must double back if you want to return where you started.
One notable structure is the Mary Dorothy Molson House. It is a heritage building within the park. Its Neo-Georgian architectural style is quite striking. Mary Dorothy Molson commissioned the house in 1930-1931. Alexander Tiloch Galt Dumford designed it. In 1974, she sold the house. The Montreal Urban Community acquired it in 1981. It became City of Montreal property in 2002.
The Bois-de-Saraguay forest mainly comprises deciduous trees. Maple groves and ash groves abound. You will also see poplar and oak groves. Several large century-old trees stand tall. Some plants are designated as vulnerable here.
The City of Montreal announced an exciting plan in December 2020. They intend to create a green corridor. This corridor will link Parc-nature du Bois-de-Saraguay and Angrignon Park. It will feature a walking path and a bicycle link. Landscaping will enhance its beauty.
In 1977, there was a proposal to construct housing towers on the site. Citizen groups opposed this plan. They included the Société d’horticulture et d’écologie du nord de Montréal. They successfully prevented the construction. In 1981, the forest became Quebec’s third “natural district”.
Bois-de-Saraguay includes four distinct parts. One part is Île aux Chats. It contains one of the few hemlock forests in southern Quebec. Other parts feature traces of former estates. These include the stone house of the Ogilvie estate’s chauffeur.
The forest boasts roughly 275 herbaceous plant species. About 35 tree species also call this park home. The forest consists mainly of leafy trees. These include maples and lindens. You can also find ash trees and poplars. There are also oak and hickory trees.
Ecologist Pierre Dansereau sampled Bois-de-Saraguay in the 1940s. He believed parts of the forest resembled its pre-Montreal colonization state.
Remember the battles fought to protect this green space. Appreciate the diverse flora and fauna around you. Parc-nature du Bois-de-Saraguay offers a serene escape. Enjoy the peaceful trails and the beautiful scenery.