Land Trust deal creates Miller Family Nature Reserve
Administrator | Nov 14, 2011 | Comments 2
Stewart Murray, President of the Hastings Prince Edward Land Trust, told council’s Committee of the Whole the Trust has made “an important development in the protection of the natural environment on the County’s south shore.”
The Land Trust’s offer to purchase a 466-acre property on the South Shore of Prince Edward County has been accepted by the Miller family, with a closing date of Jan. 15, 2012.
“The Miller family, which had farmed the property for three generations, approached our Land Trust two years ago in the hopes of finding a solution which would protect the environment and honour their family roots,” said Murray. “Accordingly, once the purchase is complete, the property will be operated in perpetuity by the Land Trust as the ‘Miller Family Nature Reserve’.
The Land Trust secured the purchase monies of $550,000 from the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Ontario Heritage Trust.
Prior to the January closing, the Land Trust will need to raise an additional $85,000 for a stewardship fund to ensure that the reserve can be maintained in perpetuity. The Land Trust has already received formal pledges of more than $30,000 and will be running a fund raising campaign over the next 10 weeks to raise the $55,000 required proceed with this important project to protect the south shore.
The Nature Reserve will be located south of Hilltop Road between Helmer Road and Brewers Road in South Marysburgh. Additional information, including a map showing the location of the Nature Reserve, is available at http://miller-family-reserve.com/
A stewardship plan for the property will be developed once the purchase is complete. Under the terms of funding, there will be no commercial, wind turbine or other development on the reserve.
Filed Under: Local News
We are close to closing the deal that will enable us to protect part of the South Shore by creating the Miller Family Nature Reserve, but still have to raise approximately $50,000 for a Stewardship Fund to maintain the property in perpetuity before the purchase can be completed. Please visit the web site at http://www.miller-family-reserve.com/ to donate online or by mail. Anyone who donates $100 or more will be recognized as a “Supporter” donor, while anyone who gives $1,000 or more will be recognized as a “Steward”.
John Blaney. Secretary, Hastings Prince Edward Land Trust
This is a real coup and most welcoming news. It’s a great first step in protecting the environment of the southern shores of the County from industrial developmnet.