The McTavish Tract consists of 46 wooded acres that have been cared for by generations of the McTavish family. The site includes a variety of habitats including a mature upland hardwood component, a cedar swamp and a spruce plantation. The property also features a spring-fed stream that is a tributary of the Avon River. The hardwood bush includes Oak, Sugar Maple, Black Cherry, Ash, American Beech and Hickory. The swamp is the result of several strong springs which have created a stream that meanders southward from the concession road to the Avon River at the south end of the property. The stream contributes significantly to the summer flow of the Avon. The swamp also contains White Cedar, Basswood, Ironwood, Ash, maple, Poplar and spruce, as well as a variety of birds, wildflowers, insects and wildlife. And, of course, mosquitoes.
The property is on the boundary between the Stratford Till Plain and the Waterloo Hills Physiographic Region. It lies partly on a small portion of the Easthope Moraine and partly in an old glacial spillway that runs parallel to the moraine. The Upland Deciduous Forest and Cedar Swamp are high quality communities typical of the area. Although not rare these woods are important because Perth County has generally very low forest cover. The forest is a moderately high quality mature maple beech forest with good structural diversity. In addition to the cool water stream, the seeps and springs on the site indicate discharge areas that make an important contribution to the hydrology of the area. The present McTavish Tract is part of a larger property that was settled in 1836 by Alexander McTavish. Although not all the subsequent owners were immediate descendents of Alexander this farm was owned by one McTavish or another up until 1965 when Donald (father of the present donors) sold the farm to the Poetkers. By that time Donald had severed the wooded tract from the original farm and retained ownership.
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