PROMISE ROCK NATURE AREA (PRNA)
Introduction:
The Promise Rock NA covers an area of 6 ha and borders the west side of the Rail Trail (Figure
PRNA-1), some 500 m north of the Environmental Sciences building. The southern end of the PRNA
is accessed from the Rail Trail via a farm track and the northern part via a formal trail which passes by
the Promise Rock. Access from Nassau Mills Road, opposite the Lock 22 picnic area, also is via the
farm track.
Topography and Soils:
The upland portion of this Nature Area runs along a low sand and gravel ridge which was
probably a successional bank of a glacial spillway channel. West of the ridge is an area of flat to
slightly hummocky lowland extending to the Nassau Mills Road. The ridge soils and most of the
lowland belong to the Emily Series which are of a medium texture, moderately stony and imperfectly
drained. A small strip of Farmington Series soils, which are medium textured, slightly to
moderately stony and are of variable drainage, lies west of the Emily deposit. Lowland soils are
poorly-drained, having shallow deposits of heavy clay over limestone.
Hydrology:
The ridge and old field are well-drained. Soil moisture levels gradually increase in the lowland
west of the ridge grading into a narrow band of wetland. The wetland is patchy and indistinct,
consisting of saturated soils and shallow pools interspersed with knolls of slightly higher, drier
soils.
Water drains slowly southward through the wetland from roadside ditches and marshes that are
located on Trent-Severn property to the north. Low relief and shallow soil over the limestone rock
impedes wetland drainage. Intermittent outflow drains onto Trent-Severn property south of the
Nature Area and eventually into the Otonabee River.
Vegetation:
The primary vegetation cover of this Nature Area is mature conifer forest (Fig. PRNA-2). White cedar
is the most abundant tree species, but white pine gives the impression of dominance because of
their great height (over 30 m tall), trunk size and age (100 + years). Large Eastern hemlock, white
spruce and balsam fir trees are also present. Poison ivy is common among the mature trees. In the
lowland west of the conifer stand, there is a mixed-wood swamp composed of aspen, white cedar
and balsam fir. Tree cover in this community is immature and patchy, permitting the growth of
shrubby thickets in openings. An upland old field community borders the conifer stand to the
south and east. The white pine are not regenerating beneath the mature canopy but are colonizing
the area west of the swamp and the old field.
Wildlife:
The mixed conifer woods attract several uncommon species of birds not noted elsewhere on campus.
A few of these birds are characteristic of more northerly locations. A black-throated green
warbler, an uncommon summer resident, was heard singing in the pines on two occasions in
the summer of 1996. A short-eared owl, a rare visitor to Peterborough County, was observed on
the western edge of the woods during December 1996. Other birds observed include the greathorned
owl, brown creeper, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, black-and-white warbler, whitethroated sparrow and black-capped chickadee. Red squirrels are common in the
mixed conifer woods.
Historical Features:
This Nature Area is named after a large, flat, lime-stone rock near the north end of the property,
known as Promise Rock because of its use by the local area Scouting movement for the induction
of new Scouts. It is still used for this rite of passage by some Peterborough Scouts. There
are also remains of a Scout camp in the southeast portion of the property. The camp operated
from the 1940s to the 1960s and still present are foundations of buildings demolished when Trent
University acquired the land. Another feature of note is the Rail Trail which runs along east side
of the property. Also of interest is an old garbage dump south of the farm track.
There are also features of past agricultural and logging activities in this Nature Area.
Significant Features:
White pine communities of this age are relatively uncommon in the municipality. There are
also many other species of trees there, such as hemlock, white cedar and white spruce, with
individual trees over 100 years of age. This is the only community of this type on campus and
is a remnant of a once common forest community removed from this area by logging. This
stand is a noticeable feature in the landscape, being visible from viewpoints such as the Lady
Eaton Drumlin and even the Faryon Bridge over the Ontonabee. Proximity to the Rail Trail and
Environmental Science Building makes this a popular Nature Area for walking and also for skiing
in winter.
Land Use:
Teaching and Research
The PRNA is used for ecological and forest management studies by undergraduate classes in
Biology and Environmental Science and Resource Studies. It is the only site on campus with such
an unique collection of 100+ years old White pines, eastern hemlock and white cedar trees available
for teaching and research studies.
Recreation
The woods are well-used for walking, skiing, nature appreciation and organized nature walks (Figure
PRNA-4). The nature trail and access lane incurs low usage by ATV riders and horse riders. The
PRNA nature trail is easily accessed from the Rotary Greenway trail and, by walking north along the
river bank and crossing the Lock 22 dam, the nature trail in the Lady Eaton Drumlin NA. From
the nature trail one can marvel the large, 100+ year-old trees around the Promise Rock and
unique to the Symons campus. The Promise Rock continues to be used by local Scout troops.
Adjacent Land Use:
To the west and north are lands of the Tent Severn Waterway and the Otonabee River. Beyond the
southern boundary is the campus core and beyond the eastern boundary is leased farmland.
Ecological Integrity:
There is concern that:
• interference with the hydrological regime of the PRNA may kill or detrimentally affect
many of the mature trees, many of which are over 100 years of age. Nowhere on the Symons
Campus is there such a magnificent collection of ancient trees.
• the coring of mature coniferous trees, may be detrimental to their well being and should be
discontinued.
• the invasion of the forest edge by European buckthorn and in the forest, itself, where light
conditions are suitable for establishment of this noxious weed, is detrimental to native species.
Figure PRNA-1: Contour Map of the Promise Rock Nature Area, Symons Campus, Trent University,
Peterborough, Ontario.
Figure PRNA-2: Vegetation Types in the Promise Rock Nature Area, Symons Campus, Trent
University, Peterborough, Ontario.
Figure PRNA-3. Vegetation Communities in the Promise Rock Nature Area, Symons Campus, Trent
University, Peterborough, Ontario.
Figure PRNA-4: Nature Trails in the Promise Rock Nature Area, Symons Campus, Trent University,
Peterborough, Ontario.