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Location and Use

The Lady Eaton Drumlin Nature Area is located between West Bank Drive, Lady Eaton College, and Highway 29. This Nature Area encompasses three different areas, the drumlin itself, the wetland between the drumlin and Highway 29, and the forest that runs along the south side of West Bank Drive. A hydroelectric line right-of-way bisects this Nature Area.

It is well-used for recreation and class studies due to its proximity to Trent University central campus.

Ecosystems and Species

The Lady Eaton Drumlin Nature Area includes 4 primary distinct ecosystems:

1. a deciduous forest, mainly Sugar Maple and Ironwood, with a few other species, on the north end of the drumlin.
2. a coniferous forest, mainly red pine, on the south end of the drumlin
3. a wetland area with a seasonal river running through it, at the base of the west side of the drumlin (between the drumlin and Highway 29)
4. a deciduous forest, mainly sugar maple and ash, located north of the drumlin between the hydroelectric line right of way, Highway 29, and West Bank Drive. This area is physically split from the drumlin by the hydroelectric line right of way, which is cleared of vegetation mechanically and via chemicals by Hydro One every few years.

You can download a plant species list (pdf) for the Lady Eaton Drumlin Nature Area, developed back in 1994. Do you see any new species? Do you notice any species that have disappeared? We hope to establish a mechanism for visitors to report sightings soon, stay tuned!

Environmental Concerns

This Nature Area is heavily used at certain times of the year, and thus is subject to some stress from frequency of recreational and educational use. To help with this, the Nature Areas Committee does request that any educational use of Trent University Nature Areas (i.e., for a class exercise or research project) be formerly reported/requested prior to use. This allows for better monitoring.

The Lady Eaton Drumlin Nature Area is also being impacted by invasive species, particularly:

• Dog Strangling Vine: This appeared approximately 10-12 years ago, and has been spreading quickly. This plant is an annual vine that grows pods that break open in late summer-early fall, releasing hundreds or even thousands of seeds (similar to Milkweed). Further, a new plant can grow from a very small root fragment. You'll find a large area that is completely taken over by this plant half-way up the switch-back trail from Lady Eaton College parking lot. Colonies and individual plants are continuing to spread further into the forests on the drumlin each year.
• Buckthorn: This invasive shrub has been present in the Peterborough area for decades. It was originally planted as an ornamental plant. It grows moderately slowly, but once it reaches a certain size it shades the ground with its thick, waxy leaves, reducing the biodiversity of other ground covers and seedlings. Buckthorn can be found throughout campus, including in the Lady Eaton Drumlin Nature Area.
• Emerald Ash Borer: This invasive insect arrived in Peterborough in 2014, and has spread each year throughout the region, killing Ash trees. The insect in larva form eats the wood material under the bark (phloem, cambrium, and outer xylem), killing the tree's ability to transport nutrients. An infected tree dies within a year of being infected, and there are several Ash trees in the Lady Eaton Drumlin that are dead or dying. This will affect the future of the deciduous forest in as of yet unknown ways.

Nature Area History

At the north end of the drumlin a ski hill was prominent (running down towards the Otonabee River) before Trent University was established. You can read more about the Nassau Ski Hill in Soaring on Skis, a Peterborough Examiner article from Feb. 7, 2009.

The Lady Eaton Drumlin Nature Area was established around 1994.

Trent University campus and natural areas

Trails, Access, and Points of Interest

It sports several trails, generally spanning the length of the drumlin (north to south). Trail entrances can be found:

• at the north end of the drumlin, starting from the southwest corner of the north Trent parking lot ("Green" parking lot, now designated Trent lot "P")
• at the south end of the drumlin, east side, off West Bank Drive just north of the driveway leading to the Athletics Complex parking lot (Trent lot "F")
• in the centre of the drumlin, east side via a switchback trail that starts from the southeast corner of the Lady Eaton College parking lot (Trent lot "G")

Trails traverse the main two ecosystems on the drumlin itself, a deciduous forest and a coniferous forest (see Ecosystems, below). There are also a few points of interest on the north end of the drumlin accessible by trail, including:

• a lookout area, looking east over Trent University, and
• at the north end of the drumlin, remnants of an old ski lift (this area of the drumlin used to be a ski hill before Trent University was established).