Conservation Halton has published a new trail guidebook that includes a walking program for trees.

The guidebook, called Halton Hikes describes 50 of the best trails in Halton and includes a pedometer to track footsteps. The adventure guide includes detailed directions, superb trail maps, notes on flora and fauna and special tips on getting the most from your outdoor adventure. Birding hot spots, wildflower viewing sites, great fishing holes, breathtaking scenic lookouts, incredible hiking and biking trails, farm markets and scenic drives are just some of the outdoor adventures that are described in Halton Hikes.. The guidebook provides detailed information on each trail, route or destination along with a note about the most famous person known to have hiked the trail. The foreword to Halton Hikes is co-written by Halton�s favourite son, international artist Robert Bateman and his wife, photographer Birgit Bateman, who hiked many of the trails while living and working in Halton for years.

Halton Hikes is also a recipe to become more physically active while helping improve the environment at the same time.  The book’s Footsteps for Trees program is a fun way for families and individuals to track their steps while hiking in nearby parks and conservation areas.  Participants count their steps while hiking and skiing, with the use of a pedometer which is included with the guidebook.  When specific target levels of steps are reached, Conservation Halton will plant trees to increase forest cover.  The more steps you take, the better your health and the health of our ecosystem becomes.  When you reach 10,000 steps (about 3 hours of hiking) and submit your results online, Conservation Halton will plant a tree to improve watershed health.  Robert Bateman said “Hiking in nature is the supreme human activity for body, mind and spirit.  Use Halton Hikes to find your own nodes and special places – they are countless and your footsteps will help Conservation Halton plant more trees for the environment.”

The new book is available at most bookstores and from Conservation Halton for $19.95 with net proceeds used for tree planting programs.  The book was published by the Conservation Halton Foundation with support from the Ontario Greenbelt Foundation, Health Promotion Ontario, Halton municipalities, and TD Canada Trust – Friends of the Environment Foundation.