Morgan Arboretum

Heritage

Dale Field - Richard Gregson

The Morgan Arboretum is a mosaic of remnant natural forest ecosystems, plantations, collection plantings of native and non-native trees species, and active and abandoned agricultural land. The natural forest contains examples of most of Quebec's native trees while the 18 tree and shrub collections span 14 botanical families and contain almost 330 horticultural species. 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. The unique 245 hectare property is located on the Macdonald campus of McGill University, in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue and Senneville, near the western tip of the Island of Montreal.

Dr. W. H. Brittain, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture 1934-1955, was the leader of the early development of the property. Dr. Brittain’s interest led to a Canada-wide collection of birch seed in 1960 and the establishment of a unique plantation. In 1967, he established the Canada Birch Trail with specimens of white birch from across Canada.

Since McGill University acquired the property in 1945, the Morgan Arboretum has had as its mandate to conserve the urban ecological forest resource and its unique and rich species diversity, to maintain the Arboretum as a site for teaching and research activities, and to develop a public education resource emphasizing forestry matters, nature interpretation and conservation.

Morgan Maple - Rob Walker

Location

Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC

Access

The public area, with 245 hectares of forest, is open daily. General trail maps, and information on courses, facilities and events can be found at www.morganarboretum.org

Specific forest, tree collection and soil ArcGIS maps are available upon request.