Hazelnut Meadows Community Park

Hazelnut Meadows Community Park includes a nature trail, a playground, games court and picnic areas. The nature trail walk is around 1.6 kilometres long. Allow around 30 minutes for this walk. In the fall, watch for Steller's Jays harvesting and storing the nuts like squirrels. Prominent trees in the park are the Bigleaf Maples. Check the trunk and branches for a small bird called a Brown Creeper, creeping up the trunk in search of insects.

You'll find the playground, games court and several picnic shelters and tables in the southwest of the park, off 140 Street. There is also a basketball and ball hockey court just to the north of the parking lot.

Plenty of parking is available off 140 Street.

The trees here are all second growth, a reminder of the early timber operators who had entirely cleared the land by 1930. Replanting activities have focused on the tall Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock that once blanketed the area. The result is a natural area forest of around 5.5 hectares (13.5 acres), mostly in the northern portion of this 10.3 hectare (25.5 acre) community park.

The park got its name from an old Hazelnut Grove, a remnant of an orchard planted by settler James Marsh in the early 1900's. Some of the gravel trails follow the former routes of telegraph poles dating from the 1860's when the first European settlers arrived in this area.

Hazelnut Meadows Community Gardens

Hazelnut Meadows Community Park is also home to Hazelnut Meadows Community Garden, which is located in the southern portion of Hazelnut Meadows Park, along 68 Avenue. Parking is available in Hazelnut Park, about 100 meters to the west.

This garden, along with the Lionel Courchene Growing Roots Community Garden, is operated by the non-profit group DIVERSEcity. Both gardens are part of DIVERSEcity's Food Security Program, which provides opportunities for immigrant, refugee and low income families to increase their food security through multicultural cooking groups and community garden activities.

Garden plots are farmed by individual residents, so please be respectful of their efforts. At the centre of the gardens, you'll find a starter greenhouse used to sprout seedlings and grow more sensitive vegetables. At the north of the gardens a pathway loops around the park. You'll find lots of open greenspace and tables ideal for an afternoon picnic in the park.

Contact Sasikala Sridar at 604-547-1378 or email garden@dcrs.ca to inquire about plot availability.

Explore the other community gardens across Surrey.