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Grand opening May 27 for Surrey’s newest park

Godwin Farm Biodiversity Preserve was donated to the City of Surrey through the Eco-Gifting program
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FLEETWOOD - The grand opening of the Godwin Farm Biodiversity Preserve Park is set for Saturday (May 27).

The 26-acre park was recently acquired from the Godwin family through Canada’s Ecological Gifts program.

To celebrate the opening of Surrey’s newest park, the city is planning several activities, including guided nature walks, kids’ activities, bucket truck rides, live music, face painting and refreshments.

The ribbon cutting ceremony is set for 12:30 p.m.

Tom and Elaine Godwin (pictured below) purchased the land in 1969 and lived there, in the Fleetwood/Tynehead area, with their four boys. Back then, it was a “stump farm,” after settlers came and cleared out nearly all of the historic trees.

Although originally 40 acres, the Godwins added to it in little bits and pieces over the years. At one time, the farm operation was 120 acres.

But the portion being donated to the city is about 26 acres.

Surrey is pleased to have this property become part of its park system, particularly because its valuable land, as identified in the city’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy.

This strategy identifies “hubs” and “corridors” important for wildlife connections, as well as protecting Surrey’s biodiversity in the longterm.

“This is essentially the head of the corridor that leads into the Serpentine (River). It’s fantastic to be able to preserve the top end of a corridor like that,” said Ted Ulrich with the City of Surrey. “Then it’s got the riparian areas that we know are so important, the large trees that are existing, the new habitat, old field habitat, we’ve got a whole bunch of different habitat values so for us on the protection of the environment it’s fantastic to have in the park system.”

Because of its rich environmental value, Ulrich stressed that dogs are not allowed – on or off leash – at the park.

Visit Godwin Farm Biodiversity Preserve at 9016 164 St. Click here for more details.

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