Overview

Located within the unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik in the quiet heart of Wicklow, the Grand Tsuga Nature Preserve protects 24 hectares (60 acres) of ecologically rich habitat types like forested wetlands and Appalachian hardwood forest stands, both of which are in decline across New Brunswick. 

History

Since the 1980s, the approximately 10 hectares of Appalachian hardwood forest within the preserve have been carefully tended by the Briggs family. The family was first approached by the Nature Trust in 1997 as part of our Appalachian hardwood forest (AHF) project and committed to safeguarding this rare forest habitat. 

“My grandparents owned this land and farmed the cleared ground around it. That was back when all they had to work with were horses and a strong back,” wrote David. G Briggs.   

“My grandfather used wood for heat and building materials like everyone else, and always had preservation in mind. He would selective cut when farming the woodlot, always using and removing the blowdowns first, which would open the forest window allowing more sunlight and growth for what remained. He knew if he cared for this woodlot properly, it would last him and his family a lifetime. And he was right. It has been passed down three generations and now it's in your (the Nature Trust’s) hands to carry on with the preservation my grandparents started. I know Grammy & Grampy Briggs would be very happy with this process.” 

In 2025, the Nature Trust officially acquired the land from the Briggs family during our most successful year of conservation to date, protecting it in perpetuity.  

The name Grand Tsuga was suggested by Ian Murdoch as part of our new preserve naming contest, drawing inspiration from the Latin name of the centuries-old eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) on the property. 

Ecology

This ecologically resilient land harbors a rich variety of plant species characteristic of the increasingly rare Appalachian hardwood forest, including the yellow lady’s slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum), northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), and unique understory plants like the Canada yew (Taxus canadensis) and painted trillium (Trillidium undulatum). White Marsh Creek meanders through deep gullies on the property, creating a haven of natural beauty that is lined with cedar-dominated wetlands and towering stands of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), balsam fir (Abies balsamea), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis). 

A portion of the property also shelters culturally significant black ash (Fraxinus nigra) trees, historically used by Indigenous communities for basket-making. 

Home to a wide array of wildlife from small mammals to migratory birds, the Grand Tsuga Nature Preserve’s harmonious blend of forested wetlands and fertile calcareous soil make the land an ideal sanctuary for countless species and a natural stronghold of climate resilience in the province.  

Access and Activities

Please contact the Nature Trust office at (506) 457-2398 or steward@ntnb.org for more information about access or stewardship opportunities.     

*The property is undeveloped and there are a variety of hazards and risks associated with accessing this preserve. Any visitor must assume responsibility for their own actions and safety and are to use the land at their own risk.