The Gift of a Handshake

What is a handshake agreement?

Since the founding of the Bruce Trail in 1962, “handshake agreements” have made the Trail’s existence possible, through the generosity of private landowners. Today, hundreds of these agreements remain in place, some for over five decades. 

If you own land along the Bruce Trail and simply want to allow the Trail to pass over your land, a handshake with your local volunteer representative of the Bruce Trail Conservancy will serve to accomplish this.  

A handshake agreement is not legally binding. You can rescind the agreement at any time for any reason.  

What is the process of putting the Bruce Trail on private land? 

Our local volunteers and staff will work with you to ensure that the Trail is not only safe and enjoyable for hikers but is also non-invasive to the landowner. The Bruce Trail Conservancy follows a set of standards for the maintenance of the Trail so you can be confident knowing that your land is going to be cared for by a team of trained individuals. 

Am I liable if someone gets injured on my property? 

Those who enter into a handshake agreement are covered by our insurance. You are indemnified as soon as the Trail is routed across your property. If you wish you can also receive a copy of a certificate of insurance from the Bruce Trail Conservancy.

How can I get more involved in environmental preservation on my property? 

Private landowners play a key role as caretakers of forests, waterways, and fields. The Bruce Trail Conservancy offers a free on-site consultation service for landowners who allow the Bruce Trail to cross their property through the Landowner Stewardship Program. 

What is Landowner Stewardship? 

As a private landowner, you have intimate knowledge of your land and you play a key role as caretaker of its valuable ecosystems. Landowner stewardship is about caring for your land in a way that preserves its environmental, economic and cultural values, keeping it healthy for today and the future. 

What is the Landowner Stewardship Program? 

The Landowner Stewardship Program supports landowners who are interested in preserving the environmental values of their property. If you own land along the Bruce Trail, the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s Landowner Stewardship Program can assist you with enhancing the wildlife habitat on your property and contributing to the ecological health of the Niagara Escarpment. The Bruce Trail Conservancy is able to provide guidance and financial support to assist private landowners with planning and implementing habitat restoration projects on their property. 

Through the program, Bruce Trail Conservancy staff and volunteers will provide you with information, advice, and resources to help you steward the land you love in a way that contributes to healthier, more biodiverse and more resilient Niagara Escarpment ecosystems. 

If the Bruce Trail crosses your property, you are eligible for this program. 

Benefits of the Landowner Stewardship Program: 

By participating, you can benefit from: 

  • A free site visit with Bruce Trail Conservancy staff to discuss your stewardship goals and your property’s ecological value
  • Information and resources on topics such as: 
    • The plants and animals that share your land 
    • Environmentally-friendly land practices 
    • Protection and enhancement of natural forests 
    • Identifying and controlling invasive species 
    • Managing and enhancing wildlife habitat (especially for at-risk species); i.e. tree plantings, pollinator gardens, riparian habitat enhancements
    • Sourcing and planting native flowers, shrubs and trees 
    • Tax incentives and funding programs that may be available to you 
    • Opportunities to permanently preserve land 
  • Opportunities to collaborate with the Bruce Trail Conservancy on eligible stewardship projects
  • A stewardship plan that is tailored to your property and your interests 
Landowner Stewardship Program
The Next Steps 

Our stewardship coordinator can do a virtual meeting or meet with you on your property to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about the ecological health of your property. The technician will make observations about the health of the natural features of your property and will suggest a variety of management techniques for your consideration that can assist you in meeting your land management goals. 

If you decide to undertake a habitat rehabilitation project on your property, your technician can draft a plan for the work to guide you through the process. Your technician will remain available to you by phone, email or in person if you have additional questions or new issues that you would like to discuss. They can also direct you to other natural resources management professionals that you may wish to contact. 
Click here to book a site visit. 

For more information about the program or to arrange a site visit, contact: 
Lyndsey Wilkerson at 1-800-665-4453 ext. 232 

Volunteer with the Bruce Trail 

Some of our landowners with a handshake agreement wish to get further involved with the Bruce Trail Conservancy. Your unique experience hosting the Trail on your property is an incredibly valuable asset. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our Volunteer With Us page. 

Learn more about volunteering

What a handshake agreement does not mean…

The Bruce Trail Conservancy cannot impose any rules or restrictions onto your land. Though we do not permit certain uses like ATVs or horses on the Bruce Trail, you can do these or continue to use your own property as you see fit.

Some landowners like to use their property for private use in the winter months or during hunting season. We can close the Trail on your property for the season and reopen it for spring.

If you run into any issues at all, you can contact your local volunteer contact. We can help by adding signage to your property or adding preventative measures.

A reminder that the Bruce Trail Conservancy cannot take ownership of your land in any way through a handshake agreement. If you are interested in selling your land or securing the land in a more permanent way, you can find out more Options for Landowners.

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