Latest news with #BruceTrailConservancy
Hamilton Spectator
20 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Bruce Trail Conservancy buys this 18-acre Burlington property
A purchase of land in north Burlington by the Bruce Trail Conservancy permanently protects 475-metres of the trail, while creating an 18-acre nature sanctuary. Ali Schofield, communications manager for Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC), said the Hollow Oak Nature Reserve on the west side of Guelph Line, between Millar Crescent and Dundas Street, features a hollow Red Oak tree — after which the site is named. Schofield said the section of Bruce Trail crossing the property has been there a while — but access previously relied on a handshake agreement with the property's former owner. 'When the property went up for sale, we knew that trail continuity and the protection of the surrounding environment could be in jeopardy, which motivated us to secure the property,' Schofield said. 'We purchased the property and now it is permanently protected as part of our conservation corridor.' She said the handshake agreement started in 1967, then lapsed from 1993 to 1999. It resumed for about 25 years, until BTC bought the property in October 2024. 'So, there was a six-year period when the trail wasn't on the land, but apart from that it's been there since the Bruce Trail first officially opened,' Schofield said. 'Had we not been able to secure the property when it went up for sale last year, the trail could have been rerouted onto 3.5-km of busy roads. 'Now the trail in this location is protected forever.' Schofield said BTC received $280,000 from Greenlands Conservation Partnership — a grant program funded by the Ontario government and administered by Ontario Land Trusts Alliance (OLTA). 'As part of the funding agreement, (the $280,000 grant) was matched by the committed community of Bruce Trail Conservancy donors who wanted to ensure this critical land remained natural and accessible,' she said. The property includes almost five acres of farmland. 'We see great value in maintaining the hay fields on the property because they support Bobolink, a grass-nesting bird species that is currently listed as threatened in the province,' Schofield said. BTC is in discussions with the current farmer to determine if they are interested in continuing to work the agricultural land. 'We have to ensure that they are willing to delay their hay times until late July as per our policies, to protect vital nesting habitat during the breeding bird season,' Schofield said. If the agricultural fields aren't maintained, BTC may look at other restoration options, such as native tall grass or meadow. Samantha Mills, communications manager of OLTA, said the program's goals are conservation of ecologically significant lands, and increasing access to greenspaces. 'Both of which are achieved through the Hollow Oak project,' Mills said. Mills said the site is rich in biodiversity and of ecological significance, as part of the Niagara Escarpment. 'Now both the forest and trail are conserved by the Bruce Trail Conservancy forever,' Mills said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Cision Canada
05-05-2025
- Cision Canada
Bruce Trail Conservancy celebrates a new hiking experience in Caledon East with the opening of Meltwater Moraine
DUNDAS, ON, May 5, 2025 /CNW/ - The Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) is thrilled to celebrate the creation of Meltwater Moraine, a newly protected natural area that preserves 137 acres in the Town of Caledon and secures 640 metres of the Bruce Trail Optimum Route. This new addition to the Bruce Trail conservation corridor protects sensitive escarpment habitats and unique geological features within the provincially significant Mono Mills-Caledon Meltwater Channels Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). Generously funded by BTC donors, the securement of Meltwater Moraine preserves the eastern boundary of the Paris Moraine, a rolling line of hills created at the leading edge of glacial ice as it pushed northwest out of the Lake Ontario Basin roughly 12,000 years ago. In addition to this special formation, Meltwater Moraine boasts four acres of forested land, three ponds, a small creek, and farmland which has been part of the community's agricultural heritage for over two centuries. The new Bruce Trail reroute spans a total of 4 kilometres and removes 3.3 kilometres of the Main Trail from the high-traffic areas of Airport Road and Escarpment Side Road. In addition to blazing this new section of Main Trail, Trail Development and Maintenance volunteers from the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club have extended the Songbird Side Trail, which leads to the Songbird Nature Reserve, secured by the BTC in 2012. "The creation of Meltwater Moraine is bringing the Bruce Trail off the road and into nature," said Michael McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of the Bruce Trail Conservancy. "With the Trail rerouted here, we are significantly improving the Bruce Trail experience in Caledon, making it safer and more connected to the unique geology, flora and fauna that motivate us to explore and protect these special places." The opening of the Bruce Trail at Meltwater Moraine was celebrated on Sunday, May 4, 2025, with over 70 volunteers, donors, special guests, and members of the greater Caledon Hills community in attendance. BTC staff ecologists led guests on a 3km hike, sharing information about the landscape and species at risk found on the property, such as Butternut and Bobolink. The event concluded with thanks to the supporters and volunteers who helped bring this land into the BTC's ribbon of wilderness. "The addition of Meltwater Moraine to our conservation corridor is a big win for nature, continuity of the Bruce Trail, and the growing community of Caledon," said Marsha Russell, Vice President of Fund Development. "This is just one more example of what is possible when we work together in service of the environment and the community." For over 60 years the Bruce Trail Conservancy has been the only charitable organization working to preserve sensitive Escarpment lands, while making them accessible for the people of Ontario by way of the Bruce Trail. Currently, only 71.9% of the Bruce Trail is on permanently protected land. The BTC forecasts that it will take approximately $109 million to completely secure the Bruce Trail. As this important work continues, the BTC is incredibly grateful to the landowners in the Caledon area and across the Niagara Escarpment who graciously allow the Trail to cross their property. Without handshake agreements with generous landowners, the continuity of the Bruce Trail would be in jeopardy. About the Bruce Trail Conservancy The Bruce Trail Conservancy is one of Ontario's largest land trusts that secures, protects and restores the vulnerable habitat and biodiversity of the UNESCO Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere. For more than 60 years we have responsibly connected people to nature through the Bruce Trail. We are a member-driven, volunteer-based, charitable organization governed by a 19-member Board of Directors. Working with each of the nine Bruce Trail Clubs, we are committed to caring for the Bruce Trail and to preserving land along its route. The Bruce Trail Conservancy is a leading Canadian environmental charity and has been named one of the Top 100 Charities in Canada by Charity Intelligence. Bruce Trail Conservancy staff members and ecologists are available for interviews upon request.
