Environmentally Significant Areas in the City of London

Donate A Plank - Help preserve London's ESAs

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In the City of London, 16 natural areas are currently designated as “Environmentally Significant Areas” or ESAs. These areas represent a variety of habitats, including upland forests, wetlands and river corridors. The ESAs are an integral part of London’s proposed Natural Heritage System connecting parks, valley lands and other open spaces. In addition to the official ESAs, London has many other natural areas within the city limits.

Seven of the 16 ESAs are publicly-owned (the others are on private lands) and are managed by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), in partnership with the City:

View Environmentally Significant Areas, City of London in a larger map

There are links to maps and brochures for each of these ESAs on their webpages.

The UTRCA's management objectives for these areas are to protect the ESAs, to ensure public safety, to encourage partnership and education, and to promote and enforce proper use.

Staff regularly visit the ESAs to carry out duties such as:

identifying and dealing with encroachment by property owners into the ESAs,
cutting hazard trees to ensure safe use of the trails,
repairing and replacing bridges, staircases and boardwalks,
installing signs and trail markers and removing garbage,
restricting unofficial access points to protect sensitive vegetation, and
enforcing rules to protect vegetation, wildlife and people under the Provincial Offences Act.

Brochures (pdf files, 8.5x14) for the ESAs are available here on their specific webpages, or are available free of charge from:

Tourism London Information Centre (696 Wellington Rd. South, in Westminster Ponds ESA) and the Dundas Street Information Centre (267 Dundas Street at Wellington)
City Planning Department, 6th floor, City Hall, 519-661-250 ext. 4980
at 519-451-2800

Rules to remember in London’s ESAs:

Please use the official access points indicated on the trail maps.
Stay on the managed trails (marked with yellow or white blazes).
Bicycles are permitted only on the asphalt or crushed gravel paths in Kilally Meadows and Medway Valley Heritage Forest. BICYCLES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN ANY OTHER LOCATIONS.
Access is allowed from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Keep the ESAs litter free.
All pets must be on leash (2 m/6 ft max.).
Do not feed the fish and wildlife.
Releasing or dumping fish or wildlife of any kind is prohibited.
Fishing is permitted with a provincial fishing licence. No hunting is permitted.
See additional rules on signs at ESA entrances.

If you have questions or concerns about management of London’s Environmentally Significant Areas, please contact the (phone: 519-451-2800 ext. 281).

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