Trent Lands and Nature Areas

A bold vision for a regenerative future  

The Trent Symons Campus Lands are a precious asset, rich in natural and cultural heritage, vital to the resilience of Trent and our communities. Our vision, through the approved Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan, is to create an inspiring, sustainable, and complete community to learn, live, innovate, and be active. In our care for and use of the land, Trent continues to demonstrate leadership in environmental education and stewardship, respect for Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, and thoughtful integration of the natural and built environment. 

Thoughtful integration of the natural and built environment 

Trent’s Symons Campus represents a substantial proportion of woodlands and wetlands within the City of Peterborough. A primary goal of the Plan is to protect, enhance and restore these assets, to foster biological diversity and sustain ecosystem function. Trent is committed to maintaining 60 per cent of the Symons Campus lands as Nature Areas and green space, and to being an active caretaker for a valuable ecosystem. 

The Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan integrates design excellence and emerging best practices to respectfully and thoughtfully evolve the campus into a thriving University and environment, with diverse opportunities for teaching, learning, and research, while addressing critical housing, employment, and daily needs. It also follows the latest thinking on regenerative landscapes, built form, and agriculture, fostering nature-inclusive spaces across the campus.  

Addressing some of today’s biggest challenges 

The Plan is ambitious, tackling challenges faced on campus, in our local communities, and across the globe. It imagines possibilities for evolution that reflect the priorities and aspirations of the University’s diverse communities. 

 
It sets a new standard for Indigenous engagement by including Indigenous knowledge, voices and values, and committing to a framework for continued dialogue and collaboration It instils Anishnaabeg principles, Indigenous spaces, and placemaking techniques, developed in collaboration with the Michi Saagiig First Nations throughout campus planning initiatives.  

Perhaps most importantly, the Plan is adaptable, setting out clear principles and intent, while acknowledging the need to respond to new information and changing circumstances; it produces harmony without rigidity. 

Read and learn more about the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan.