Together for 100 Stories
The people, places, and stories that got us here
For nearly four decades, the Nature Trust of New Brunswick has protected the forests, wetlands, islands, shorelines, and unique species that shape our province’s identity. From rare orchid habitats in western New Brunswick to stretches of Bay of Fundy shoreline, to the special places families have chosen to protect forever, each of these conserved lands tells a story.
To celebrate our 100th nature preserve milestone, we’d like to share those stories with you! Keep reading to hear from the thousands of New Brunswickers that have stepped up over the years—donors, volunteers, community partners—all united around the belief that the wild places we love should remain protected forever.
We'll be adding new stories throughout the year as we continue to celebrate Together for 100. Check back often to discover another special place and the people who helped protect it!
THE ROAD TO 100
Whether we’re walking through lush fields with reflective land donors or wading through cedar swamps in search of increasingly rare lichen, each new chapter in our shared conservation story never fails to spark excitement! These stories represent all the people, places, and projects that have paved the way to our 100 nature preserve milestone.
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Reconnecting Through Nature (#50, Margaret (Coburn) Cameron Woods Nature Preserve)
How two high school classmates reconnected after 50 years apart through conserving land with the Nature Trust.
Why Protect the Forest and Wetland in Waasis (#40, Currie Nature Preserve)
An Oasis Uncovered (#76, Aptelomultineweyawihkuk Nature Preserve at Gagetown)
We speak with Alice Reed and Bob Bancroft to learn more about their passion for conservation and why they made their generous gift of land in Gagetown.
Forever Forested: Protecting Rich Ecosystems on Scotch Lake (#78, Edwards-Jackson Nature Preserve)
Discover the beauty of the 36-hectare (89-acre) property of mature climate-resilient forest and Provincially Significant Wetlands on Scotch Lake we raised the funds to protect thanks to your generous help!
And the winners are... (#91, Leaning Cedar Nature Preserve and #96, Grand Tsuga Nature Preserve)
To celebrate the biggest conservation effort in our organization’s history, we called on the public to help us name two new protected areas, one located in Carleton County and one located in Upper Nashwaak.
6th Annual Great Fundy Coastal Cleanup - Your Impact in 2021 (#32, South Wolf Island Nature Preserve)
This video highlights the people and 6th Annual Great Fundy Coastal Cleanup events that occurred throughout the province and illustrates the impact that cleanups can have on nature preserves and New Brunswick coastlines.
A decade of dedication: The Great Fundy Coastal Cleanup turns love of place into action for nature (#35, Frye Island Nature Preserve)
For 10 years, the Nature Trust of New Brunswick’s Great Fundy Coastal Cleanup has stood strong in the fight against marine debris, and hundreds of volunteers have dedicated their time, hands, and hearts to protecting the wild shoreline of the Bay of Fundy time and time again.
10 years of the Great Fundy Coastal Cleanup
In this milestone video, hear from Colleen Lang, Laurie Campbell, Charly and Laura Bonga, Jane and Eric Hadley, and Bethany Pohl, long-time members of the Nature Trust community of supporters as they share their Great Fundy Coastal Cleanup stories and why this work matters—for the Bay, for wildlife, and for future generations.
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Preserving nature and memories (#88, Baird Family Nature Preserve)
When Nancy Baird decided to protect her family’s riverside land near Taymouth, she wasn’t just conserving nature—she was preserving a lifetime of memories. Learn how one woman’s love for her land became a legacy for future generations.
Reflecting on the Caughey-Taylor Nature Preserve with Land Donor Sheila Washburn (#10, Caughey-Taylor Nature Preserve)
Join one of our Caughey-Taylor Nature Preserve land donors, Sheila Washburn, as she reflects on her family’s history, what makes this preserve so special, and some of the unique features of the land!
Breathe from the Top of the Pine Trees (#63, Speer Hillside Nature Preserve)
Jane Hadley and her brother, Robert Speer, made the important decision to protect their family property along the Saint John/Wolastoq River, forever. Learn about Jane’s passion for nature and why her family made the important decision to Conserve Y(our) NB and protect the places you love.
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The weird and wonderful world of lichens (#95, Paragon Woods Nature Preserve)
Lauren Aarts tells us about her life as a wrinkled shingle lichen hunter and the Nature Trust’s work to help landholders in New Brunswick learn more about, and help better protect, the natural wonders in their own backyard.
Uncovering the Remarkable Resilience of Appalachian Hardwood Forests (#82, Hal Hinds Forest Nature Preserve)
The research of Master’s student Madi White is helping us protect this unique and threatened forest. By exploring the species composition and land usage history, we can gain a better understanding of the factors that are impacting restoration efforts.
Bank-Burrowing Brown Birds (#2, Western Isles Nature Preserve)
Scritch scratch, scritch scratch. A little bird sits in a small crevice on the side of a steep riverbank. Scritch scratch, scritch scratch. The crevice grows larger and larger as the bird continues to burrow into it. Scritch scratch, scritch scratch. Eventually, the crevice is large enough to fit several of his fellow birds and a nest for his young. He’s made a home for both himself and his potential family.
A mystery in the recordings: The evening we met the common nighthawk (#100, Warbler Woods Nature Preserve)
One rainy day, as our team was sipping coffee and listening to hours upon hours of audio recordings from our Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) until their ears got tired, something unexpected called out — the threatened common nighthawk!
Furbish’s lousewort: A species on the edge (#4, George M. Stirrett Nature Preserve)
Read a blog written by our Communications Officer, Ash Noble, about the rare and endangered Furbish’s lousewort, one of the hidden treasures of the Wolastoq/St. John River. Learn more about this unique plant and our work, with partners, to conserve and restore it.
BEYOND 100
Beyond our fundraising efforts to secure new protected nature preserves, we also strive to build partnerships and inspire New Brunswickers to get out in nature and learn about the importance of protecting our province’s unique natural heritage and biodiversity. These are the stories of the people who have been inspired, and who continue to inspire us in turn.
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Nature's Namesake (#72, Sankewopekahk Nature Preserve)
Communications Manager Jon MacNeill shares this story about a day spent on the land with the Wolastoq Grand Chief as part of a Nature Trust initiative to deepen shared stewardship and help revitalize Indigenous names at nature preserves.
How a groundbreaking partnership between the Nature Trust and the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik is reclaiming, conserving and restoring land.
A 97-Acre Act of Reconciliation: The Nature Trust’s land transfer to a Mi’gmaq-led trust symbolizes shared stewardship, cultural renewal, and conservation.
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How the MacLeod Family and the Nature Trust preserved ‘fern gully’ for future generations.
Steward Spotlight: Josh Carew's Journey with the Nature Trust (#58, Noremac Nature Preserve)
Josh Carew spent his earliest years in Toronto surrounded by the ‘concrete jungle.’ Although he had visited courtyards and playgrounds before, it was not until he moved to Nova Scotia that he truly got to experience the great outdoors for the first time. Now a volunteer steward for the Nature Trust of New Brunswick, Carew is encouraging others to experience the connection and community that comes when you give back to nature.
Less than one per cent of New Brunswick’s Appalachian Hardwood Forest remains. On her Summerville woodlot, Chantal Côté-DeMerchant is working to restore it—demonstrating how thoughtful management can bring forests back over time.
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New Brunswick Nature Sessions - A collection of musical performances from New Brunswick musicians on Nature Trust preserves!
Mike Trask, Owen Steel & the Park St. Elementary School Choir (#6, Hyla Park Nature Preserve)
Ingrid Gatin - Climb, Climb, Climb (#10, Caughey-Taylor Nature Preserve)
Pirate Soul - Fire Lord (#11, Clark Gregory Nature Preserve)
Oh No, Theodore! (#14, Clark’s Point Nature Preserve)
Paper Beat Scissors - Tendrils (#42, Beardsley Hill Nature Preserve)
Adam Kelly - Space Cadet (#1, Shea Lake Nature Preserve)
Mike Trask - Damn The Whole World (#19, James C. Yerxa Nature Preserve)
Katie Baggs - What I Know (#26, MacNichol-Orser Conservation Easement)
Acres and Acres (#10, Caughey-Taylor Nature Preserve)
Alan Jeffries - Coffee Til Midnight (#5, Pickerel Pond Nature Preserve)
Colleen Brown - Tumbleweed (#18, Dick's Island Nature Preserve)
Breagh Mackinnon - Bright Future (#21, Beldings Reef Nature Preserve)
Les Hay Babies - My Love (#5, Pickerel Pond Nature Preserve)
Goshawk - Play the fool (#16, Minister's Face Nature Preserve)
Conservation on Canvas - A collection of paintings by Michael McEwing documenting Nature Trust preserves through the seasons.
cONSERVE Y(OUR) NEW BRUNSWICK
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