Group seeks land for nature preserve

ROTHESAY - The Nature Trust of New Brunswick is looking for more Long Island landowners who want to sell or donate their land to be a part of the island's nature preserve.

Margo Sheppard, executive director of the nature trust, held a public information session Wednesday night about the Minister's Face nature preserve that has been 10 years in the making.

About 50 people crowded into the Renforth Boat Club to attend the meeting about the unique stretch of undeveloped land off Rothesay.

"We are hoping to bring people up to speed about what we are doing and rekindle some interest in our nature project," Sheppard said.

"We have sort of plateaued a bit in terms of land acquisition. By holding the meeting, we were hoping to reinvigorate some of the discussion that some people have had with us about conserving their properties for the future. We want to talk to people to see if they are interested or willing to sell or donate land."

The island is 2,190 acres in area and the nature trust owns less than 20 per cent, or 383 acres, of the land. Sheppard said the area features a seven-kilometre walking trail, sandy beaches, ATV trails, majestic cliffs such as Minister's Face and rare plants and birds including the provincially endangered peregrine falcon.

The remnants of a 200-year-old Loyalist settlement can still be found on the island. There have been no permanent residents since 1960 but several cottages remain.

During the meeting, Sheppard asked those in attendance if they would be willing to volunteer and form a committee that would clean up the beaches and help build trails on the preserve.

There were no volunteers.

Sheppard said she hopes the session will lead to more follow-up calls in the coming days and weeks. Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop said he hopes the meeting lit a spark with landowners in the area and inspired them to sell or give their land so it can be preserved. Bishop said it is treat for a town such as Rothesay to have a nature preserve in its backyard.

"A lot of people know about the island, but I don't think they appreciate the value it has for preserving our past and allowing children and adults to go over to the island and see that is there and what was there," Bishop said. Rothesay residents Juliet and Jack Hickman agreed. The couple said they can see Minister's Face from their home and enjoy sailing there and swimming on the beaches.

"I think it's wonderful that people would donate and give their land. I wish more people would do it," Juliet Hickman said. "We don't have land to give, but it's a wonderful thing to hear the enthusiasm."

Bric Boyle said he and his two brothers own land on the island and came to the meeting to see what the Nature Trust was doing in the upcoming year.

Boyle said it is nice to have a nature trust on the island to curb development since there is so much development in the rest of the Kennebecasis Valley.

He and his brothers use the land, but he said they will likely give it to the nature trust eventually.

Sheppard said the Nature Trust has built trails on the island, catalogued unique species, cleaned up beaches and held fundraisers to pay for the property and upkeep. She said this summer there will be a guided hike that would include information about the birds and plants. She also hopes to have hiking signs up in the near future.