Giving Back to Mother Nature
By: Terry Keep
The Thames River meanders through southwestern Ontario past a 45 hectare parcel of rich forest land known as Newport Forest. On most winter afternoons, you will find Kee Dewdney tending Newport Forest. Kee and his wife Pat purchased the land 8 years ago from the Newport family.
Kee and Pat Dewdney live in London, Ontario. But their hearts belong to the forestland, which borders the Thames River near Skunk's Misery Forest 45 minutes west of London, just west of the town of Wardsville.
As part of a growing trend of protecting land from encroaching urban and industrial development, today's generation wants to leave a legacy behind.
In the past, landowners like Kee and Pat struggled with how to protect the land once they were no longer here to be the stewards. But the recent advent of land conservation trusts in Ontario was the perfect solution for Kee and Pat.
Land trusts like the Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT), exist in order to allow people to create a permanent natural legacy for future generations. Through conservation easements, gifts of land or donations in cash, donors make it possible for future generations to share their love of nature. To land trusts, a legacy of an important landscape is a welcome gift.
After long and careful consideration, the Dewdneys have committed to bequeath their treasured Newport Forest to the TTLT. The Trust will hold the land in perpetuity and manage it according to a conservation plan developed with the Dewdneys. Kee and Pat chose the Thames Talbot as the land trust to receive their land gift, as they know that the TTLT shares the same values and vision for the land as they do.
Kee and Pat Dewdney have a deep understanding of what it means to be good stewards of the land. Through many years of experience in the preservation of the Kirk-Cousins Management Area (just south of London) the Dewdneys formed clear opinions on what a good caretaker should be. As a result, the Dewdneys' love of the forest shows in the painstaking network of trails, a detailed species inventory, and the reforestation of old farmland.
When asked what his grand vision for the area is Kee replies “Skunk's Misery National Forest. We will need the cooperation of private landowners, municipal government and organizations like the TTLT to acquire and protect land in the area for this vision to be realized one day”.
Kee and Pat see their gift to the TTLT as a seed that will blossom over time. “The TTLT has more resources to protect the land than I have. I hope people see the long-term value in having an organization like the Thanes Talbot Land Trust to conserve the land.” Indeed, it is the trust's sole purpose to see the blossom of their land gift each and every year.
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