The Land
Forty Acres of Carolinian Forest
Old-growth hardwoods. Seasonal ponds. Meadow clearings, marked trails, and wildlife you can watch from a cabin window or a fire pit at midnight. This is a private 40-acre forest in Komoka, Ontario — ten minutes from London. The same family has been here since 1966.
- Size
- 40 acres
- Ecosystem
- Carolinian forest
- Distance from London
- 10 min
- Family land since
- 1966
- Trails
- Marked paths
- Water
- Seasonal ponds
The Ecosystem
One of Canada's Rarest Forest Types
Carolinian forest — also called the Carolinian Zone — is a temperate broadleaf ecosystem found only in the southernmost tip of Canada, roughly between Windsor and Toronto. It covers less than 1% of Canada's land area but contains 40% of Canada's at-risk plant and animal species.
The Fernwood Hills canopy is dominated by red oak, sugar maple, shagbark hickory, black walnut, and eastern white cedar — species common in Kentucky and the American southeast but rare in Ontario. The understory has trilliums, trout lily, wild ginger, and jack-in-the-pulpit in spring.
The property has been forested since before the family acquired it in 1966. Because it has never been cleared for agriculture, many of the old oaks and maples are mature — some estimated at 80–120 years old. The root systems hold the soil and support species that can't colonise second-growth forest.
Fernwood Hills is not a managed park or conservation area. It's a working private property — which means guests move through the land as guests, not visitors to an institution. The forest is simply there.
Wildlife
What Lives Here
The 24/7 wildlife camera documents daily activity. These are the species seen most consistently.
🦌
White-tailed deer
Year-round
Most reliable visitor — usually spotted at dawn and dusk near the cabin clearing.
🦊
Red fox
Year-round (nocturnal)
Seen most often on the wildlife camera after dark. Occasionally crosses the trail in the early morning.
🦉
Barred owl
Year-round (evening)
Easier to hear than see. The call carries well through the forest at dusk.
🦃
Wild turkey
Year-round (daylight)
A resident flock of 4–8 cycles through the property most days.
🐦
Pileated woodpecker
Year-round
Large, distinctive — hammering on dead snags throughout the property.
🦝
Raccoon
Spring–Autumn
Active at night; visible on the camera around the meadow edge.
🐢
Snapping turtle
Spring–Summer
Seen occasionally near the ponds in warmer months.
🦋
Butterflies & pollinators
Summer
The meadow clearing draws monarchs, swallowtails, and native bees in July and August.
The Land Features
Trails, Ponds, Meadow, Fire Pit
Marked Trails
The trail network runs from the cabin cluster through the meadow and into the deeper hardwood stands. Easy to moderate difficulty — no technical gear needed. Trails are accessible for any overnight guest or day-use visitor. The longest loop takes about 45 minutes at an easy pace.
Seasonal Ponds
Seasonal ponds sit in the lower sections of the 40-acre property — quiet, still water surrounded by forest. They attract wildlife and are accessible from the trail network. In spring they're full from snowmelt; in late summer they draw down. Not in line of sight of any of the cabins, but worth the walk.
Meadow Clearing
An open meadow clearing within the forest catches full sun — a contrast to the shaded canopy areas. In summer it's full of grasses, wildflowers, and pollinators. In autumn it frames the colour against the sky. The community fire pit sits at the forest edge near this clearing.
Community Fire Pit
A shared fire pit near the meadow, available to all guests. Firewood is supplied. This is a communal space — not private to any one cabin. Use it on your own or run into other guests here. Most memorable on clear nights when the tree canopy frames a dark sky.
Seasons
The Forest Changes Every Quarter
Spring
April – MayThe forest floor comes alive before the canopy closes. Trilliums, trout lilies, and wild ginger push through the leaf litter. The ponds are fullest from snowmelt. Migratory warblers arrive in May — dozens of species stop through the Carolinian corridor on their way north.
Wildflower bloom · Ponds at peak · Migratory birds
Summer
June – AugustFull canopy cover creates a cool, green interior even in July heat. Fireflies appear in the meadow at dusk — one of the most striking experiences on the property. Wildlife is active but often sheltered from the midday sun.
Fireflies at dusk · Deep shade · Long evenings
Autumn
September – NovemberPeak colour arrives in mid-October. Sugar maple, red oak, and shagbark hickory turn the canopy into something that stops people mid-trail. The understory opens as leaves fall, making wildlife easier to spot. The forest is quieter — birdsong gives way to wind in the branches.
Peak colour (mid-October) · Best photography · Wildlife visible
Winter
December – MarchThe forest becomes very still. Snow reveals animal tracks — deer, fox, and turkey crossing the meadow overnight. The bare canopy lets in more sky. The ponds sometimes freeze over. Fewer guests means the property is at its quietest.
Animal tracks in snow · Quiet property · Frozen ponds
About the Land
Common Questions
- What type of forest is Fernwood Hills on?
- The property sits on forty acres of Carolinian forest — a temperate broadleaf ecosystem found only in the southernmost part of Canada, roughly between Windsor and Toronto. Carolinian forest covers less than 1% of Canada's land area but contains 40% of Canada's at-risk plant and animal species, making it one of the most biodiverse forest types on the continent. The Fernwood Hills canopy is dominated by red oak, sugar maple, shagbark hickory, black walnut, and eastern white cedar.
- What wildlife lives in the forest?
- Year-round residents include white-tailed deer, red fox, barred owl, wild turkey, raccoon, and a broad range of songbirds and woodpeckers (including the pileated woodpecker). Spring migration brings warblers and other neotropical species. The property has a 24/7 wildlife camera (livestreamed at fernwoodhills.com/live) that documents species activity.
- Are there trails at Fernwood Hills?
- Yes. The property has marked walking trails through the forest — from the cabin cluster through the meadow clearing and into the deeper hardwood stands. The trails are accessible on foot and are included with any overnight stay or day-use session. Trail difficulty is easy to moderate; no technical gear required.
- Is there water on the property?
- Yes. There are seasonal ponds on the 40-acre property — quiet, still water tucked into the lower sections of the land. They attract wildlife and are accessible from the trail network.
- What changes by season in the forest?
- Spring (April–May): trilliums and wildflowers carpet the forest floor; migratory birds arrive; the ponds are fullest from snowmelt. Summer (June–August): full canopy cover, dappled light, fireflies in the meadow at dusk. Autumn (September–November): peak colour from the hardwoods — sugar maple, oak, and hickory; best photography season. Winter (December–March): quiet and stark; tracks in snow make wildlife visible; the ponds sometimes freeze over.
- Is there a meadow at Fernwood Hills?
- Yes. There's an open meadow clearing within the property that catches full sun — distinct from the forest canopy areas. In summer it's full of wildflowers and grasses. The community fire pit is situated at the forest edge near this clearing. The meadow is accessible from the main trail.
- Is the forest private — can others enter the property?
- Yes. Fernwood Hills is a private property. The forest, trails, and meadow are accessible only to guests and day-use visitors who have booked. There is no public trail access. The property is gated and staffed.
- Can I bring dogs into the forest?
- Dogs are not permitted in the overnight accommodations, but guests are welcome to walk dogs on the trails during their stay. Leashes are required. Service animals are always welcome everywhere on the property.
Come to the Forest
Forty Acres. Yours to Move Through.
The forest isn't a backdrop — it's the point. Book a cabin, a day-use session, or a retreat and the land comes with it.