Area History

There is evidence that the Burgeo area was inhabited by Dorset Indians long before Europeans settled these shores. Sandbanks Island which was once joined by a sandbar to the Sandparks Park area, has a Dorset archaeological site in a small cove. It is believed that it may have been a look-out.

The Sandbanks and Burgeo area was first visited by Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1583, and by 1628 the Portugese were fishing the area off the "Virgio Islands". This name was subsequently changed to Birgio and more recently to Burgeo.

The history of Burgeo is one of fisherman, merchants and the Church. The original Anglican population came from Devon, England to take ad- advantage of excellent fishing grounds. The Sand- banks were probably settled before Burgeo itself in the mid to late 1700's, most likely because of the good grazing offered by the dune grass. Evidence of this past activity is still visible on the grasslands of the Park.

Some families were living on the shore a long time before the first clergyman, Reverend Martin Blackmore settled in the area. During the 6 years he spent in Burgeo, Reverend Blackmore had 3 churches built, including one on the west-side of Sandbanks island where most of the people lived.

By I878, The original church was too small so another was built on Sandbanks Island only to be blown down a year later in a violent gale. The third church was then built on the Sandbanks itself, in the lee of a wooded hill. Evidence of this church can be seen within the park at a cemetery on the grassland inland from Fox Point.

It is believed that the centre of population shifted from the Sandbanks to Burgeo because Burgeo Island offered superior shelter for fishing boats, and because the first merchants set up business there rather the Sandbanks.

Natural History

Southwest Coast Of Newfoundland. The abundant supply of sand is a result of the last glaciation deposition from Grandy's Brook and a complex series of depositional wave environments supported by numerous offshore islands. The sand dunes are a fragile environment because they have a thin vegetive cover of Dune grass(ammophilia breviligulata) and Beach Pea (Lathyrus maritimus) which binds the sand together. This vegetation is easily eroded by trails, resulting in sand blowouts. Because of this it is important to stay on designated trails.

The Park has another unusual feature; the freshwater outflow of Heron Pond and Grepesy Brook is intertidal. At high tide, salt water flows up Grepesy Brook to Heron Pond, while at low tide, freshwater flows down the brook to the ocean. The animals and plants which live in the water and on the intertidal flats must be able to tolerate both fresh and salt water conditions. Heron Pond is home to a number of salt-tolerant plants, and at certain times of the year, is inhabited by a variety of waterfowl.

The Burgeo area is an important bird migration route. Because of extensive sand deposits, shallow water, and the Heron Pond intertidal area. Sandbanks Park is an excellent place to bird- watch, particularly for shore birds such as sandpipers and plovers and water fowl like ducks and geese .

PARK ACTIVITIES

Camping
Sandbanks Provincial Park has 25 un- serviced campsites on a single camping loop. Approximately two-thirds of the sites are sheltered among forest, and the other one-third are situated in a grassy area. Firewood and water are available at the checkpoint. Each site has a fireplace picnic table and garbage can. Four pit toilets, 2 of which are wheelchair-accessible, are conveniently located nearby.

Picnicking
The day use or picnic area, located by the beach on Swimming Pond, is equipped with change houses, picnic tables, garbage cans and pit toilets.

Hiking Trails
Sandbanks Provincial Park has 7 km of sandy beach. Enjoy the special beauty of these sands with a shore walk; in summer, be sure to look for shorebirds feeding in the shallows. Notice the contrast between the sand dunes and the rocky barrens which are so typical of the South Coast. Other trails pass inland, through forest and hog, to look- outs such as that at Cow Hill. Enjoy these beautiful nature walks, and please no smoking on the trails.

Playground
A playground equipped with swings, sec- saws and monkey bars is located on the sandy area adjacent to the campground.

Swimming
A section of Swimming Pond, in the day use area, has been designated for swimming. A small section of the pond has been roped off for your safety. Caution: The swimming area is unsu- pervised. Water safety equipment is conspicuously located in the designated swimming area.

Celebrating Our Natural Heritage

Provincial Parks, Wilderness and Ecological Reserves provide a variety of opportunities for both residents and non-residents to celebrate the Provinces magnificent natural heritage.

Provincial Parks help people celebrate Newfoundland and Labrador's rich natural heritage, by providing province-wide opportunities for people to relax and recreate in a refreshing naturals setting. Visit a park for a few hours or a few days and get closer to nature. Bring your family or friends, take a swim, hike, picnic, camp or just sit back and enjoy an evening campfire Through these activities Provincial Parks invites you to celebrate discover, explore, understand and appreciate the Province's natural wonders.

Wilderness and Ecological Reserves are primarily set aside to protect large wilderness areas, representative samples of the natural regions of the province as well as the habitat of rare or threatened species and sites of special merit (sc. fossil sites). Special sites, like the Cape St Mary's Reserve, provide people with the opportunity to experience the incredible diversity of animal life, plant communities, natural features and landforrns which occur here.

Provincial Parks, Wilderness and Ecological Reserves are special places held in trust for present and future generations. In these special places learning naturally is fun. Our park interpreters are there to help you better understand out unique natural heritage.