Sidney Conservation Area receives generous donation | InQuinte.ca
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Trail opening – From Left to Right: Tim Trustham, Conservation Forester (QC); Kirsten Geisler, Communications Specialist (QC); Don Kuntze, Chair of Quinte Conservation’s Executive Board; MPP Tyler Allsopp; Dylan Phillips, Alva Foundation; Tammy Smith, Corporate Services Manager (QC); Barnaba Szluinski, Volunteer Builder (QC); Michael Burt, Field Operations (QC); and Lindsay Nash, Outreach and Stewardship Coordinator (QC) PHOTO: SUBMITTED

Sidney Conservation Area receives generous donation

By Brock Ormond Nov 13, 2025 | 4:38 PM
A generous donation from the Alva Foundation has made a lasting impact at Sidney Conservation Area.
Funding supported trail and infrastructure improvements including a new entrance sign and information kiosk, improved parking, and the addition of a brand-new trail.

The highlight of the upgrades is Acorn Alley — a fitting name for the new trail that winds through a mature oak forest. Featuring 80 feet of new boardwalks and footbridges, Acorn Alley adds 478 metres to the existing 2-kilometre trail network, offering even more opportunities to explore this beloved natural space.

Dylan Phillips of the Alva Foundation explained he was drawn to supporting Sidney, because it’s small, unique, and full of places to explore, representing all of what he loves about the local environment.

Once a pine plantation, Sidney Conservation Area is now a thriving mixed forest known for its ecological diversity. Each season brings new things to see and experience — trilliums in spring, wildflowers in summer, mushrooms in fall — making it a hidden gem, loved by locals.“Without this grant from the Alva Foundation, and a top-up using paid parking revenue, we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish as much within the same period of time,” says Tammy Smith, Corporate Services Manager.

“We are incredibly thankful to receive this kind of support from community organizations that share our vision for protecting and enhancing these spaces.”

Adding to its peaceful charm, Sidney Conservation Area was also selected as the pilot site for Quinte Conservation’s first Wind Phone — a quiet space for reflection and healing for those who are grieving.

Learn more about Sidney Conservation Area at QuinteConservation.ca/OutdoorSpaces