W. L. Dickson Arboretum
- Open to Public: Yes
- Size: 4 ha (10 acres)
- Entry Fee: None
- Permitted Activities: Walking, nature appreciation. All other activities prohibited.
- Facilities: Small parking lot
- Address: Oxford County Road 4 between 16th and 17th Line
- Managers: UTRCA
- Trails: 1 km mowed loop
The W. Leslie Dickson Arboretum, located between Innerkip and Woodstock, was established in 1974 by Oxford County Council under the direction of Les Dickson. Mr. Dickson was County Warden (1973), the former mayor of Norwich Township, and an avid conservationist. Oxford Men of the Trees and Aylmer District Ministry of Natural Resources provided substantial assistance. Initially the 10 acre site, part of Pittock Conservation Area lands, was leased from the UTRCA.
Mr. Dickson’s love of trees and his concern for the disappearance of native Canadian species sparked the idea of the arboretum. He hoped to educate people about trees and foster a concern for their care. Originally, the arboretum contained 38 different species of trees. Over the years, Mr. Dickson added trees so that now there are over 175 different species, a mix of native and ornamental trees and shrubs from around the world.
From 1974 to 1995, the County contracted the UTRCA to do the mowing and maintenance. The County then maintained the site up until 2010. The site closed to the public in 2011 due to wet conditions. After some drainage work, the arboretum was re-opened and maintained by the Township of East Zorra-Tavistock until 2019. The UTRCA currently manages the area for passive use.
The site is accessed from Oxford Road 4 between Woodstock and Innerkip. Parking is available. The trail network, approximately 1 km, weaves throughout the property and includes several different side trails that navigate back to the main loop. More than 150 species have been identified including Carolinian species such as Chinquapin Oak and Pawpaw, as well as interesting non-native species such as Amur Cork Tree and Golden Chain.
