Located in the picturesque city of Golden, the Burges and James Gadsden Park one of the most famous provincial parks in the region, popular in naturalists and bird watching enthusiasts alike, for the spectacular array of flora and fauna it houses.
Established in 1965, the park is spread over 410 hectares of land, which was donated by Burges and James Gadsden, one of the most noteworthy residents of Golden, with the vision that its natural beauty would be preserved forever. The park, which is comprised of a major segment of the Moberly Marsh, more than lives up to this aim with the number of preservation and awareness programs it hosts. The marshes are also a popular retreat for a large number of migratory birds. You can expect to spot raptors like hawks, eagles and osprey besides an array of other species like the blue heron, yellow headed blackbirds, ducks, geese and swans in the diverse habitats that the park supports. The cottonwood, spruce, birch and willow trees that populate the park are also home to varieties of beavers, muskrats, otters and minks.
The park also benefits from the low snow levels that the valley receives as it is perfectly suited to the elk and deer that live here. You can also view a live demonstration of the food chain, as the park is also well-known for predators like coyotes and wolves that prey on these herbivores. The eco-cycle is perfectly balanced as various kinds of bacteria, fungi, worms and beetles maintain the carbon, sulfur, phosphorus and nitrogen levels of the park. The park is also under the scrutiny of the Ducks Unlimited Conservation project which aims to protect the several unique species which are found here.
The Burges and James Gadsden Park is only available for day use, and does not allow any camping or other recreational facilities, with the aim of not disrupting the sanctity which the park is most famous for.
For further information, you can refer to the website http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/burges.html .
The Burgess and James Gadsden Park
10 km north of Golden, off the Trans-Canada Highway
BC Canada
