1 site · Lodging88 acres · Oxford Station, ONSongwood is 88 acres of oldfield-farm-turned Managed Forest, backing onto hundreds of acres of County land, part of Limerick Forest. It sits on the traditional territory of the Anishnabek and Haudenosaunee Peoples. We say “miigwech” and “niá:wen” to thank them and other Indigenous Peoples for taking care of this land from time immemorial and for sharing the land with those of us who are newcomers.
After centuries as part of the borderlands between the Algonquin and Iroquois native peoples, the land was surveyed by European settlers in 1791, but the ground conditions were so poor that the first settler did not occupy this property until the mid-1850’s.
Over the next century, the land was cleared and farming was attempted. But because of the shallow soil and wet conditions, the land was not good for farming. By the 1950’s, the fields in the southern end of the property were abandoned, allowing the pioneer varieties of plants and trees to once again spring up.
In 1969, the Graham family purchased the property and began the process of introducing suitable tree seedlings to abandoned fields, to aid in habitat regeneration for wildlife. The only harvesting of the farm’s trees is for firewood, to aid in the development of a healthy ecosystem, and to maintain the trails by which to enjoy nature.
In 2006, the property received FSC certification based on our sustainable forest management approach. Today, we are a proud member of the Ontario Woodlot Association.
We love to share our forest! Recently, we renovated a small cabin in the woods to provide a space to withdraw into nature for a bit, to embrace a little forest therapy. It’s also a place for our five children and eight grandchildren to come home to. We hope you enjoy your stay.
