An old friend from my land trust days dropped by today, and reminded me I wanted to write about land trusts. Land trusts herein Ontario are non-profit community-based conservation groups that work to preserve natural areas and farmland.
Let me start with the land trust he's involved in, the Thames Talbot Land Trust here in London. It covers the city an a large rural area in the upper Thames River wateshed. To date they have preserved over 1300 acres in 16 properties.
Most of their work consists of raising money and purchasing properties, but a few landowners donate land too. After that they need to manage all these lands with care. It turns out that their office is right here beside the hospital, in one of the old cottages of the vetran's village.
They are also a member of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, a provincial organization I helped establish. More tomorrow on those things. It has also opened my eyes to a range of other blog topics.
Possibilities! Great!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds very familiar, I've been involved in a regional land trust for many years and have helped to conserve thousands of acres in Pennsylvania. Some remains in private ownership under conservation easement, other properties have become publicly owned as state forest or state game lands. Thank you for your efforts and please keep up the good work in future years. We seem to have even more in common than a love for uneven ground and moving water.
ReplyDeleteLand trusts help to keep good native habitat. after that land trusts can become a challenge to operate and mange. It still takes lots of money after the property has been purchased. It sounds like you know what you're doing.
ReplyDeleteI know very little about land trusts, so I will be happy to get educated in your future posts. :-)
ReplyDelete1300 acres, that is a lot of land, as I grew up on a 100 acre farm. Quite a walk to the back boundary. I can see this might be a new avenue for you and your wheelchair to follow, And as I know nothing about this topic, will stay tuned to learn more.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting concept. There is so much fallow land, after pioneers were forced to strip it, in Ontario. Many hobby farms lying stagnant. We see it as we do our big drives.
ReplyDelete'It turns out that their office is right here beside the hospital, in one of the old cottages of the vetran's village'. I'm wondering if that is the nature area behind the hospital. I seem to recall a nice pond and trees there as well as some buildings. Looks like you may have an interesting and rewarding project to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteHow nice if him to drop by for a visit. More interesting blog topics for you.
ReplyDeleteLike DJan, I know very little about Land Trusts. I know that is the kind of thing you are interested in and a project to carry forward. Writing about these things teach us too, you must be a professor! :D wink wink
ReplyDeleteThat would be something you would be able to help out with. Using the Internet you could do it from Home.
ReplyDeleteTrying to think of subjects is never a problem. Just write your post about whatever strikes you then add the Title.
Be Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
We've been able to work with Land Trusts to preserve routes for the NCT in some places.
ReplyDeleteAnd something even bigger than blog posts. Great idea. - Margy
ReplyDeleteYou may want to Google Tim Barnett who works for The Nature Conservancy and has been a quadriplegic since he broke his neck during a fall from a horse a number of years ago -- and now uses a motorized wheelchair. He too was an outdoors person and deeply involved in the land trust community, and still is.
ReplyDeleteThat is a worthwhile initiative and hopefully it gives you some inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading more …
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan