What do mummies, a sunken tractor and insect eating plants have to do with Burns Bog? Visit the trails on your own or take a guided tour of the Delta Nature Reserve and find out!
The Delta Nature Reserve
The Delta Nature Reserve covers 148 Acres (60 ha) and lies in the northeastern corner or “lagg” of Burns Bog. The Delta Nature Reserve is less than 2% of the original Bog. At this time, it is the only part of Burns Bog open to the public.
Five to 10,000 years ago, people living above the Delta Nature Reserve had riverfront property. It is called the “lagg” or edge of Burns Bog because it is believed this is where Burns Bog began. When sphagnum moss colonizes a water body it usually starts at the edge and works its way in until the whole area is covered with sphagnum moss.
The Nature Reserve has two loops of boardwalk (one inner and one outer loop). Volunteers built the boardwalks and erected the benches around them with funding obtained by the Burns Bog Conservation Society. Major funders include the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, the North Delta Lions Club, Shell Oil Limited, ECO Canada, HRDC (Service Canada), Mainroad Construction, Vancity and numerous others including members of the Society.
The memorial benches along the boardwalks offer resting places to listen for and observe the sights and sounds of the Bog.
The 90 minute to two-hour walk takes you past a beaver dam hidden in the bushes, through a Spirea meadow and a forested area. Along the way, you will see stunted Lodgepole pine, Bracken fern, the famous Labrador tea, Bog laurel, Skunk cabbage with its magical built-in furnace to attract insects in
cold weather, wild cranberry, wild blueberries, Licorice fern and several types of mosses including Sphagnum moss.
If you visit early in the morning or late at night you might see Blue heron fishing in Davis creek and coyotes in the tall grasses. Owls are sometimes observed and songbirds can be heard if it is quiet.
If you take “man’s best friend” with you please keep him/her on a leash and pick up after your pet. It is easy to forget that many of the rare plants in Burns Bog are only a few centimeters high and easily trampled. Further, adding animal feces to the Bog changes the ecology of the Bog and over time will force out the very plants we treasure here. (back to top)
Public Tours of the Delta Nature Reserve in Burns bog
Take a two hour interpretive tour of the Bog in your backyard and learn about the flora, fauna, ecology and history of Burns Bog as well as issues affecting its future. (back to top)
Public Tour Dates
- Saturday, July 7, 2007, 10:00am
- Saturday, July 21, 2007, 10:00am
- Saturday, August 4, 2007, 10:00am
- Saturday, August 18, 2007, 10:00am
School and Community Group Tours
The Society offers two hour field trips for school and community groups as well as for private groups.
School tours address grade specific Prescribed Learning Outcomes (PLOs) such as plants and animals, habitats and communities, food webs, ecosystems, natural resources, history and First Nations as well as human impacts on the environment.
Students are encouraged to use all five senses, make predictions and come up with solutions to potential threats to Burns Bog. Teachers are provided with an activity booklet (and answer key) which they can photocopy for their students should they chose. There is also the option of having your lunch in the Bog after the tour ends and getting the students involved with some invasive species removal. (back to top)
Directions
The tour begins at the back of the parking lot of the Great Pacific Forum Planet Ice (10388 Nordel Court, Delta). This is located at the South-East end of the Alex Fraser Bridge. The trail is a 2.8 km return trip. The boardwalks (both on the West side of the gravel GVRD access road) begin about 10 minutes from the Forum’s parking lot.
How to get to the Delta Nature Reserve boardwalks from the Great Pacific Forum Planet Ice
To the far left of the front entrance of the Forum there is a red brick path. Walk east towards the Nordel overpass, walk under it and south along the gravel GVRD access road which parallels the creek. There is a sign about dogs and fire at the trailhead and an old kiosk sign. A little ways south, you'll come to a wooden boardwalk on your right. This does a loop back on to the same gravel road, just a little further south. There is another inner boardwalk that does a loop as well - this is in between that north and south end of the boardwalk just described.
Driving Directions
From Surrey / North Delta
- Head west on Nordel Way and stay in the far left-hand lane. Take the overpass over Highway #91.
- Turn right at the second set of lights onto Nordel Court.
- Go to the end of the street and into the parking lot of the Great Pacific Forum. Park at the far-left of the front entrance of the building (South-East end of the parking lot). From the parking lot there is a red brick pathway.
- If you are taking a tour, wait for your guide here. If you are going through on your own, follow the directions above on how to get to the boardwalks.
From Vancouver
- Follow Highway #91 (East West Connector) South onto the Alex Fraser Bridge. After the bridge take the first exit (Nordel Way). Stay to the right and follow the signs to River Road.
- Drive along Nordel Way and turn right at the second set of lights onto Nordel Court.
- Please see #3 and #4 above.
From Ladner or Richmond
- Take Highway #99 South through the George Massey Tunnel.
- Take the second exit after the tunnel (River Road exit) and stay in the left lane. This takes you over the overpass and continues East on River Road.
- Follow River Road to Nordel Way (Sunbury Cedar is on the corner) and turn right.
- Drive along Nordel Way and turn left onto Nordel Court.
- Please see #3 above.
Bus DIrections
- Take the 640 Tsawwassen bus from Scott Road Skytrain station to the Sidetrack Pub on River Road.
- Follow the GVRD access road south into the Bog.
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Prices
Contact the Society for prices. (back to top)
Notes
- Public tours may be cancelled due to low attendance so please call 604.572.0373 to register in advance. VISA, MasterCard, and American Express accepted over the phone. Cheques or cash may be dropped off at our office.
- Tours take place rain or shine.
- Trail is accessible to strollers and wheelchairs.
- Metal grid has been put down on parts of the boardwalk to prevent people slipping after a heavy rain. Running shoes are usually fine except in winter and during heavy rains when the trails can be flooded. At this time, rubber boots are ideal.
- Remember to pack a bottle of water and small snack.
- There are no bathrooms or garbage cans in the Delta Nature Reserve so please plan ahead.
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If you wish to learn more about our tours and field trips, contact the Burns Bog Conservation Society at 604.572.0373.
