Credit Jan Oudenes
Map provides approximate location.
MapleCross Nature Reserve at River and Ruin
Lowville, ON
Bruce Trail Conservancy – 2019
28 hectares
Property Description
MapleCross Nature Reserve at River and Ruin is a 28-hectare oasis of natural land in the community of Lowville, north of Burlington. As its name suggests, this property features a lively watercourse and, tucked in the forest, the remains of a limestone house from the early 1800s.
The River and Ruin Side Trail has passed through this land for many years, by permission of the private landowner. When the landowner was ready to sell the land the fall of 2019, the Bruce Trail Conservancy was able to purchase and protect it thanks to generous financial support from MapleCross and from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
This scenic nature reserve sits within a designated Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) and the Bruce Trail has been routed to lay lightly on the land. A 600 m stretch of Bronte Creek runs through the property. Its healthy, coldwater creek and associated riparian areas provide habitat for the endangered Spiny Softshell Turtle and American Eel, and many other species including Great Blue Heron, Rainbow Trout, and Wood Duck. The regenerating meadow and mixed, mature forest which make up the rest of the property provide varied habitats and are home to an impressive array of established bird populations including Yellow Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, and American Redstart.
This critical acquisition ensures that over 1.5 km of the Bruce Trail will be permanently secured on the property and significant natural habitat will be preserved in the rapidly-growing Burlington area.
Content and property pictures courtesy of Bruce Trail Conservancy.
