Overview

Located on unceded Wolastoqiyik territory in Grafton, Rocky Forest Refuge (Official Name Pending) protects 24.6 hectares (61 acres) of diverse forest and ground vegetation including mature softwood stands, critically endangered butternut (Juglans cinerea) trees, and rare Appalachian hardwood forest.

History

Identified by our staff as a high-value parcel for climate resilience and habitat diversity, this conserved woodlot has remained largely undisturbed despite nearby development. Rocky Forest Refuge (Official Name Pending) was officially protected in 2025 during our most successful year of conservation yet. 

Ecology

This biodiverse preserve protects rare trees like butternut (Juglans cinerea) and black ash (Fraxinus nigra). This preserve’s steep, rocky terrain, rich soils and seepage areas also provide a foundation for unique plants like red trillium (Trillium erectum) and Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). Moving north to south, a mature Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and Eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) forest transitions into mixedwood stands enveloping a pocket of rare Appalachian hardwood forest. This preserve’s ecological value is further enhanced by its carbon storage potential and its contribution to forest corridor connectivity due to its proximity to other conserved lands.  

Access and Activities

To access Rocky Forest Refuge (Official Name Pending), visitors can drive along Upper Kilmarnock Road and park on the road near the edge of the preserve boundary. 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding access to this preserve, please contact the Nature Trust at info@ntnb.org 

Please contact the Nature Trust office at (506) 457-2398 or engage@ntnb.org for information about volunteering and fieldwork 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.