Each year the Bruce Trail Conservancy spends from $1 to $2 million on purchases of land, preserving hundreds of acres of the Niagara Escarpment.

We have protected a diverse array of landscape types within the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve: wetlands, karst topography, open meadows, caves, towering scarp edges and lush forests.

Thank you to everyone who has given so generously to our land aquisition campaigns and helped to preserve these irreplacable treasures.

Learn more about our most recent aquisition,
Boyne River School Property.

 
Success!  Our Recent Aquisitions:

Lindenwood - Sydenham

BTC donors made the Lindenwood Property acquisition a reality.  Their gifts totaled $320,000 and now Lindenwood is secure.

Located just west of the tiny hamlet of Lindenwood, north of Owen Sound, this 176 acre property provides over 1,000 m of Bruce Trail Optimum Route, winding its way through one of the loveliest parts of the Sydenham section. 

The property features a  low Escarpment ridge, topped by a dense and lush hardwood forest. The southeast corner of Lindenwood is part of "The Glen", a provincially significant wetland and a lively habitat for wildlife including "at risk" species.

It is a key link in guaranteeing a 17 km continuous corridor of secured land.

Along the Boyne River, in the Mulmur Hills, these 80 acres of forest, meadows, springs and creeks are now preserved. Gifts from our generous donors totaled $323,000 - the entire amount needed to secure and steward this irreplaceable property.

Our donors have given the people of Ontario a wonderful gift. This aquisition is noteworthy for its size (80 acres), its critical waterways and the property's undeniable beauty, but it also demonstrates our donors' ongoing commitment to securing a continuous conserfation corridor along the Niagara Escarpment.

The lovely hardwood forest along the northern portion of the property has been named Walker's Woods, to honour Chris Walker and the generous donations made in his name.

We are currently working to add to this continuous corridor of secured land along the Boyne Valley through our campaign for the Boyne River School property.

The 62-acre Bull Homestead property is located just north of Wiarton.  The landowner is a long-time supporter of the Bruce Trail, having allowed the Trail across his land since the 1960s. Acquisition of the property secures 305 m of Bruce Trail Optimum Route. The property has been named for the original settlers of the land.

The wide open field characertizing much of the property belies its rich ecological and geological diversity. The western portion features karst topography - a landscape of sinkholes and undergrond streams shaped by the dissolution of the soluble dolostone bedrock, common on the Niagara Escarpment. The eastern section features the Escarpment edge that fronts onto Colpoy's Bay. Combined with the dense woods, it is a perfect home for numerous species of gulls including Glaucous and Iceland, as well as Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks, Kestrels and Shrikes, to mention a few of our avian visitors.

The Williams Caves property is located in the north end of Lion's Head just off Main St. At 20 acres in size, it secures roughly 300 metres of Bruce Trail Optimum Route. The property lies within an Earth Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, and has 300 m of shoreline along Georgian Bay. It is in an area considered by the Ministry of Natural Resources scientists to be one of the most important geological sites along the Bruce. Caves formed around 5,000 years ago when Lake Nippissing, a precursor to Georgian Bay, lapped high up on the cliffs of the property. The main cave on this property is nothing short of spectacular. It is situated 16 m above Georgian Bay, just below the level of Lake Nipissing 5,000 years ago. It reaches 8 m in height, is 7 m wide, and is 12 to 14 m deep, with a prominent pillar along the back wall. The main Bruce Trail has been rerouted along the eastern edge of this property, providing access between the Lion's Head Harbour and Whippoorwill Bay. The BTC plans to transfer title to the property to the Ontario Heritage Trust, who will reimburse 50% of the purchase price under their "Natural Spaces Land Acquisition and Stewardship Program."

Probably the fastest acquisition yet, the Crevice Springs property was on the Land  Securement Secretariat's radar 4 years ago, but the landowner decided not to sell. In April 2008 a BTC member hiking in the area noticed the For Sale sign and notified BTC staff. The price was right and four days later an agreement of purchase and sale had been  completed, with the transaction closing mid May. Our sharp-eyed hiker not only alerted us to the property, but also made a generous donation of securities towards its purchase.

The Crevice Springs property is located on the southwest corner of County Road 18 and Hwy 26 in Woodford. The 47 acre property features a high Escarpment ridge that is capped with a dense cedar bush and a cliff face that offers a stunning south east view. It has a deep crevice system and springs that feed the Bighead River. Acquisition of the property secures 518 m of Optimum Route for the Bruce Trail in the new Bayview Extension.

Hughes Property - Beaver Valley

A 41 acre parcel on the east side of the Beaver Valley just west of Duncan, this newly acquired property secures 840 metres of Bruce Trail Optimum Route. It boasts a lovely hardwood bush with maple and ash predominating, open fields with views to the west over the Valley, a stream, and other Escarpment features such as caves, crevices and scarp face. The BTC plans to transfer title to the property's conservation lands to the Ontario Heritage Trust, who will reimburse 50% of the purchase price under their "Natural Spaces" program. A 2.5 acre building lot located on the road at the corner of the property will be sold off by the BTC to recover funds for other land acquisitions.

Town of Caledon Easement - Caledon Hills

A number of years ago the BTC entered into a License Agreement with the Town of Caledon for two properties they owned, located between St. Andrew's Road and Mountainview Road. The Town had agreed to provide an easement across these lands to the BTC, should they ever wish to sell the properties. Thanks to Club volunteers and a Landowner Relations Director with a keen eye, "For Sale" signs for the properties were noticed. The BTC acted quickly to survey the trail area and an easement agreement was prepared. We are happy to report that registration of the easements has been completed, securing 1.2 km of Bruce Trail.

Norman Alan Taunton Memorial Trail - Iroquoia

A delightful piece of the jigsaw, strategically located at the foot of the Escarpment in Stoney Creek.  We are thrilled to report that  Gertrud Taunton, has generously donated her property in loving memory of her husband Norman Alan Taunton. Mr. Taunton was a supporter of the Bruce Trail, permitting a handshake across their property for many years. The cathedral high deciduous trees in this area near Devil's Punchbowl make for a particularly beautiful walk any time of the year.