Muskoka Conservancy has informed the Town of Huntsville that it is withdrawing planning applications related to the Nelson Head Nature Reserve expansion.
This concludes a two-year process that would have seen the reserve increase in size from 9-acres to 17- acres. It would have protected the headwaters of a creek that runs across the original nature reserve. “For the past two years until last Thursday we believed we were working toward common objectives with all our partners,” said Scott Young, executive director at Muskoka Conservancy. “That includes the original land donor Aldine Head and our good neighbours Jeremiah Tilstra and Margaret Stead.”
“We were informed that Mrs. Head opposed the project on Thursday June 10, and after careful contemplation with our volunteers and directors, we came to the obvious conclusion that there really is no other course of action than to respect the wishes of the land donor.”
The Nelson Head Nature Reserve will remain in its current 9-acre form. The Conservancy will apply for conservation zoning and will erect a plaque honouring the Head family for their generous land donation.
Related story: Public meeting to be held Wednesday regarding proposed nature reserve land swap
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I think Mr. Wydra has the right idea. As for the people who are moaning about not trading you have to remember it was donated to be as it is, not to be played fast and loose with it. The lady who donated wanted it the way it is ,so it should stay that way .
How unfortunate that this project was cancelled. There was such focus on what would be lost, that the much bigger and more significant amount that would be gained, was deemed unimportant. How sad.
Lets not stop here. Lets attempt to purchase the other piece of property to add to the Head legacy and make it a larger park. Perhaps the conservancy could approach the present owners for a value then crowd fund for the purchase.
Sad to hear the conservancy will not be able to double in size and obtain the ecologically significant land that was available. Hoping social pressures don’t continue to have us deviate from other mutually beneficial proposals like this in the future.
Thank goodness!! With all of the development and destruction of the lovely land spaces going on around us in Muskoka, it is reassuring that there are some people who actually re-think their actions and who care about the sustainability of our environment!! THANK YOU to all who took the time to protect this beautiful space!!!!????
Happy that there will be peace again as people enjoy the Nelson Head Reserve green space. Thanks to all the volunteers and members of the Muskoka Conservancy for all their fine work. Joanne Tanaka
I would like to echo Mr. McCafferys’ comments to the Muskoka Conservancy, with their having finally seen the light. My thanks is issued somewhat grudgingly inasmuch as I can see how close they came to having accepted this family’s gift and saying, “but it’s not enough!”
Let’s get that land registered as green space before there is the temptation to again venture into the realm of trading hockey cards and comic books.
And that plaque, acknowledging Nels and his family will be a nice touch. I’ll spot you twenty bucks toward that myself. Forty, if it’s large enough to be seen from the travesty being perpetrated on a piece of hillside a half kilometer away.
I would like to say thank you to all the people that expressed their views and support to retain the wishes of Mrs. Head. She thought she was only one voice but with your help her voice was heard loud and clear.
I would also like to thank the Muskoka Conservancy for doing the right thing by retaining the wishes of the original land owner. Without the generous donations by these people there would be no land to protect.
I encourage everyone to take a walk on this beautiful piece of land and enjoy it as Mrs. Head intended.
A big thank you to Scott Young and the Muskoka Conservancy for withdrawing their support for this ill-considered land swap deal involving the Nelson Head Nature Retreat! Please get it re-zoned as a protected green space as soon as possible! Thanks again!