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The Nova Scotia Nature Trust – A Partner in Conservation
The Nova Scotia Nature Trust continues to enjoy working together with the St. Mary’s River Association towards the long term health of the St. Mary’s River, its wildlife and its people. In 2017 we continued our contributions to river conservation through the protection of another property along the river’s edge: the Mitchell Pool Conservation Lands. The Sobey family generously donated this 30 acre property at Mitchells Pool to the Nature Trust, to be safeguarded and cared for, forever. The site is beloved by the family, and they were inspired to donate the land so that it could continue to provide powerful nature experiences for future generations.
We celebrated this conservation success at an event in August, hosted at the St. Mary’s River Education and Interpretation Centre. More than 60 people attended, despite the very rainy weather! Local river champion and Nature Trust conservation easement donor Hardy Eshbaugh spoke about his love of the river, a passion shared by the Sobey family. The conservation importance of the river at a provincial scale was described by Nature Trust Executive Director Bonnie Sutherland. Then Nature Trust staff led guided walks on the newly protected property, and the Waternish Conservation Lands. To view photos from the celebration please visit our Facebook page (@novascotianaturetrust).
The Mitchells Pool Conservation Lands are an excellent addition to the network of protected areas forming along the river. Having multiple sites with intact, riverside habitat is beneficial to river species including the Wood Turtle and Atlantic Salmon. The 8 Nature Trust Conservation Lands along the river have floodplain forest on them, which act as a vital filter for rainwater on its way to the river, and provide shade over the river’s edges. These protected areas host a large diversity of species, and provide special places for our species to reconnect with our roots.
The Nature Trust is working hard to try to keep a “ribbon of green” healthy and wild along the river’s blue heart. We invite you to find out more about our work along the river, join us for a guided walk, help care for our lands as a volunteer Property Guardian, or support our work on the St. Mary’s River or other exceptional rivers in the province.
Karen McKendry
Conservation Coordinator
Nova Scotia Nature Trust
www.nsnt.ca