Need a little help getting in the holiday spirit? Take a December road trip to Le Petit Bois at the Sainte Anne University campus in Clare.
The “little woods” have been transformed for the holidays with hundreds of ornaments beautifully displayed along the trails.
It’s a bit of a mystery as to exactly who decorates the woods each year. Some think students are behind it, while others say a group of women from the local community lead the transformation.
Whoever is behind the project has been transforming Le Petit Bois for a long time; the annual display has been taking place for more than 15 years!
Le Petit Bois is pretty magical regardless of when you visit.
The woods surround the campus on three sides and represent a diverse range of ecosystems and landscapes. Within a 1-2 hour walk you can experience a shaded Acadian forest of mixed coniferous and deciduous trees, a coastal walk along the beautiful Baie Sainte Marie, then descend into a boggy marshland.
Sainte Anne University is known as one of the greenest campuses in Canada. Two onsite windmills power the campus, a biomass furnace provides heat, more than 100 solar panels provide hot water throughout the dorms, and new greenhouses on-site will help provide fresh produce year-round. It’s a great stop to add to any Nova Scotia road trip, but this festive display makes a good case for planning a holiday road trip.
All the photos in this post (except the last one) were taken by my dad on our recent day trip to Clare. See photos of how it normally looks in our post all about what’s hiding in The Little Woods HERE.
Looking for a little something local to put under the tree? Our Local Wishlist features hundreds of gift ideas made in Nova Scotia. Check it out HERE.