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The Morgan Arboretum is a 245 hectare forested reserve, situated on the McGill University Macdonald Campus in Ste. Anne de Bellevue on the western tip of the island of Montreal. The Arboretum is open daily throughout the year from 9 am to visitors who can walk and ski its trails in season. The public contributes to the development and maintenance of the Arboretum through the Morgan Arboretum Association, a non-profit organization.
In addition to an expanse of natural woodland containing examples of most of Quebec’s native trees, the property supports 18 collections of trees and shrubs, from across the world, that include fir, oak, birch, maple, linden, spruce and flowering trees. The Arboretum is also home to 30 species of mammals, 20 species of reptiles and amphibians, and over 170 species of migratory and overwintering birds.
Members of "The Friends" have year-round free entry as a benefit of their membership. Non-members are very welcome at the arboretum but are asked to pay a nominal entry fee.
Daily vistor fees :
- Friend - $0
- Adult - $5
- Children (4-14 yrs) - $2(free if less than 4 yrs)
- Student - $3
- Family - $12
- Skier - $6
- skier - child - $2
Dog walking is a privilege restricted to Friends of the Arboretum who have previously registered their dogs with the MAA. Certain restrictions concerning leashes etc apply. Further details about dog access are given elsewhere on the site.
Since 1945, when McGill University acquired the property, the Morgan Arboretum has been the site of teaching, research, and public education related to the management of woodland resources as well as being an important recreational facility for the people who come to visit and spend time under our trees.
Visit the Chalet Pruche Restoration Project pages ...
Each day during 2009 a picture taken in the Arboretum by a member
of the public
will be posted in our on liine album.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Send in your pictures (of anything Arboretum-related) to us at morganarboretum@gmail.com
2010 Photo Calendar Project : Photographs wanted
We are presently planning the 2010 edition of our calendar. If you can think of ways you would like to see the product improved, don’t hesitate to send your suggestions. See the News page.
Conservation Regulations – A note from your Board
Several incidents that have been reported to the Gatehouse clearly indicate that many members of the Arboretum are not aware of the basic rules that apply to all who enter a conservation or wilderness area. As members we individually have a responsibility to preserve what Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal of McGill, referred to as ‘the lungs of the city’ in her recent note to the McGill community 1.
These rules apply to all persons entering this unique area unless otherwise authorized. So if you see someone who is not following these rules, ask them to respect the rules and not to endanger our privilege of access to this unique area.
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Stay on the designated trails at all times.
People tend to underestimate the importance of cumulative impacts. If one person goes off a trail, the impact is minimal, but with each additional person going off trail, the understorey vegetation is destroyed, the soil becomes compacted which then leads to an alteration in the forest drainage and the vegetation.2
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Preserve the habitat. Leave all vegetation - flowers, fruit, fungi, ferns, branches etc. where they are. Take only pictures.
Picking flowers not only destroys the possibility of flowers for the next year, but also removes a source of food for insects particularly butterflies. Fungi are important in the woodland lifecycle as they are part of the process of returning dead leaves, wood debris etc. back to the soil - without them the regenerative process is slowed, the soil is impoverished and consequently the vegetation is altered.
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Respect the wildlife. Leave birds, nesting sites, animals, ponds, wetlands etc. undisturbed.
Once disturbed, birds and animals often do not return to their nesting or feeding areas for sometime and may as a result put their young at risk. If they are repeatedly disturbed over time, they will leave never to return. 3
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Park bicycles and all motorized vehicles in the defined areas.
One off road bike damages the forest floor as much as 30 walkers.2
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Registered dogs only. Please pick up after your dog and dispose of the waste in the cans provided.
The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans and other mammals. 4
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Place all garbage in the appropriate trash or recycling containers provided.
On behalf of the MAA Board, thanks are extended to M-A. Hudson, and P. Asch, for information provided. Written on behalf of the MAA Board by Jenny Anderson