The Little Traverse Conservancy is expanding its physical footprint by nearly 180 acres with the support of a local couple.
The 180-acre expanse known as the Hundred Acre Wood sits alongside 80 acres of West Traverse Township public trails. The addition is possible because of the conservancy’s intent to purchase 160 acres from Jeff and Karen Ford, who have been supporters for many years. The couple also donated 20 acres as part of the transaction. Jeff Ford is a past board member of the Little Traverse Conservancy.
That is a significant amount of land to add to the conservancy’s Emmet County profile, since the minimum size criteria to add to its inventory is 40 acres, said Chief Development Officer Emily Hughes. Known fully as The Hundred Acre Wood: Ford Family and Friends Reserve, the area is overseen by the conservancy, which has launched a $3 million capital campaign to help fund the land purchase.
“(Members of) the community were already using that land for hiking and walking because (the Fords) opened it up to the public for use for many years now,” Hughes said. “The great thing is that with (the land purchase and donation) they will be able to use the land in the foreseeable future as well.”
That combined 180-acre area will continue to be available for residents and visitors for hiking, cross-country skiing and other activities. The Outfitter in Harbor Springs will also continue to groom the trails.
The Little Traverse Conservancy was founded by four local residents in 1972 with a goal of limiting the number of new developments that would reduce public, rural, wooded land. About a decade after forming the conservancy, the founders shifted their efforts to proactively protecting land from future developments rather than forcing planned developments to disband.
New land that is acquired by the conservancy through purchase, donation or other methods are also studied for the purposes of creating a comprehensive management plan for ecological and recreational strategies. Hughes confirmed that the conservancy will take the next year to determine the management plan for the Hundred Acre Wood.
“We’re excited to see how we can support (birds and animals) living there,” Hughes said.
There is also an educational element to the conservancy’s efforts. Its team members organize field trips with local students in the spring and fall. Summer nature programs are hosted by the Little Traverse Conservancy throughout Northern Michigan as well.
“We are fortunate to have an endowment program to help fund our educational efforts,” Hughes said.
Learn more by visiting landtrust.org.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Little Traverse Conservancy raising funds for Hundred Acre Wood reserve
Reporting by M. Alan Scott, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By M. Alan Scott, The Petoskey News-Review | USA TODAY Network
