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Okanagan Wildlife Abounds in New Conservancy Park

There are so many reasons to be grateful for a life in the Okanagan Valley, but one of the best has to be the access to abundant and beautiful wildlife. At the Village of Kettle Valley, homeowners are just minutes away from outstanding hiking trails, lush woods, stunning views, and more flora and fauna than you can shake a stick at.

The Johns Family Nature Conservancy Regional Park is one of the areas that offers a chance to experience the nearby wilderness. The park was formerly the Cedar Mountain Regional Park, but a generous donation of land from the estate of siblings Nancy and Alfred Johns has allowed the original park to expand from 79.5 hectares to 402.5 hectares in size. The donation of land is the single-largest in the Central Okanagan and it comes as the siblings aimed to preserve the ecological diversity of the property on the southern slopes of Kelowna.

While the new lands are currently restricted until a park management plan can be put in place, the original 80 hectares of parkland are an excellent place to explore area wildlife. While the area was severely scorched by the 2003 wildfire, it remains a beautiful place to enjoy a summer’s day and evidence of the regrowth in the area can be seen all around as both the plants and animals are returning to the area. In the spring of 2013, a one-day excursion by a birding group of the Central Okanagan Naturalist Club identified 55 bird species alone!

Here are some of the great things that you can expect to find when you visit this Kelowna park:

Columbian Ground Squirrels

King Bolete Mushroom

 

Indian Paintbrush

 

Wild Tiger Lily

 

Wild Rose

 

Grouse

When it comes to choosing the perfect place to live, few places are as wonderful and natureful as Kelowna and the Okanagan. Of course, when it comes to choosing the perfect community within this region, few developments offer as much neighbourly community as the Village of Kettle Valley. Come visit our newest neighbourhood, The Highlands at Kettle Valley, and build your dream home with a dream view and nature on your doorstep.