(Image provided by Andrew Holland)
The Britain Lake Wetland and Woodlands area north of Lion’s Head has been bought by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC).
NCC Midwestern Ontario Program Director Esme Batten says they are excited to protect the 395 acre property located between Britain and Otter Lake on the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula.
Batten notes there is a mixture of forests and wetland habitats which connects with exiting conservation lands, creating a conservation corridor of over 1,100 acres.
“So it protects habitats for species at risk like Massasauga Rattlesnakes as well as our unique population of American black bear,” says Batten.
She says the typical process for the NCC after they purchase a property is a “baseline inventory process.” Resident biologists will go into the area and determine what species are present, both native and invasive plants and animals.
“Once that process is done over the next year, we are going to be developing our property management plan, so thinking forward to what we are gong to be doing on the ground in the future on the property,” says Batten.
Batten adds through their process of putting together a property management plan, they will be looking at how to enable people to safely and responsibly enjoy the property, while ensuring the natural features of the area.
Batten notes their group of biologists in the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula make yearly trips to the properties under their jurisdiction, to make sure their are formal trails and are well maintained for residents to safely enjoy. At the same time, monitoring the population of plants and animals, and how they are doing.
“We will also look at things like invasive species that could be damaging native habitats, for example at the Britain Lake property, our team of biologists identified a population of invasive phragmites, which is a none native grass that really degrades wetland and shoreline habitats,” says Batten.
Batten notes the NCC works with a variety of donors and people who are interested in selling land, adding the organization bought the Britain Lake area from a private individual for $410,000.
Batten says the NCC is always looking to work with private landowners who are interested in conservation and discuss what opportunities there are to conserve their land.