County closes Beagle Club Trails weekdays in Northumberland Forest

By Cecilia Nasmith

Northumberland County has announced that the Beagle Club Trails in the Northumberland County Forest will be closed temporarily on weekdays to permit timber-harvesting operations.

From the time operations begin in November and throughout the winter, all Beagle Club trails located west of Beagle Club Road (including north of Dunbar Road) will be closed to users Mondays through Fridays to accommodate truck movements and logging activities. Trail users are encouraged to visit the Woodland, Carstairs and Morris trails during these closures.

During this time, the Beagle Club Trails will be open to users on Saturdays and Sundays. While county natural-heritage staff will endeavour to ensure the trails are clear on weekends, users at these times are advised to take caution and watch for debris.

Timber harvesting is an important step in maintaining a thriving and sustainable forest, the county press release said. These operations turn conifer plantations into mixed-ecology forests that are more biodiverse and disease-resistant – in turn, creating better habitats for animals and improving the overall health of the forest.

For more information on the closures, contact Natural Heritage Services at forest@northumberlandcounty.ca or 1-800-354-7050 ext. 2303.

For information about the county forest recreational trails, visit www.northumberland.ca/trails.