The Dance Nature Sanctuary
In May 2006,
Mrs. Alice Sharpe donated her 100-acre (40 ha) property to the Conservancy. “The protection of
our land fits well with our personal values – we feel that the special features of our land need to be protected for generations to come”, says Mrs. Sharpe.
Situated between Young’s Point and Lakefield in the Township of Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield, the property encompasses part of a provincially significant wetland, is home to a provincially threatened bird species and a plant that is rare in the County of Peterborough as well as creeks, forests, old fields and other diverse habitats. The property also includes part of the Lakefield Crevasse Fillings, a provincially significant Earth Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. The fillings are part of the Late Wisconsinan, North Bay Interstadial glacial deposit which also created the Dummer moraine, immediately to the south. Crevasse fillings are ridges or hummocks that were formed when glacial sediments were deposited in cracks and crevasses of the ice.
The property remains home to Mrs. Sharpe and her husband Charles who retain the right to live on the property for as long as they wish. For their generous donation they will receive significant tax benefits extending over several years.
The Conservancy is currently stewarding the Dance Nature Sanctuary in partnership with the Sharpes and has been assisted with biological inventory and monitoring by members of the Peterborough Field Naturalists and the Natural Heritage Information Centre. In 2006, Trent University Conservation Biology Intern Jennifer Sylvester drafted a Management Plan for the property.
McKim-Garsonnin Property
The Conservancy has discussed a variety of conservation activities with landowners
Ralph McKim and Jean Garsonnin for their 240 acre (97 ha) property on the Oak Ridges Moraine near Bethany in the City of Kawartha Lakes. In the spring of 2006, in partnership with Kawartha Conservation, a controlled burn was conducted on a 20 acre (8 ha) area of the property to restore tallgrass prairie. The burn allowed for removal of existing vegetation and introduction of new prairie plantings. To help ensure long-term conservation of the prairie site, the owners and the Conservancy have entered into a memorandum of understanding to advance restoration and negotiation of a conservation agreement.
Eastern Syndicate Island, Stoney Lake
Norman Cowan ensured ongoing conservation of the largest undeveloped island left in Stoney Lake by donating a conservation agreement on his property to the Conservancy in 2005. Eastern Syndicate Island, located in the Boschink Narrows in Douro-Dummer Township, functions as an important habitat stepping stone for wildlife moving between the lake’s granite north shore and its limestone south shore. Maintaining the 5 acre (2 ha) property in its natural state provides habitat for rare dragonflies, herons, deer and other wildlife. It sustains scenic value for lake residents and visitors while maintaining ecological value, water quality and an undisturbed shoreline.
Schipper Property
Mieke Schipper donated a conservation agreement on her 100-acre (40 ha) property south of Bobcaygeon in the City of Kawartha Lakes to the Conservancy in 2002. The property is home to the
Gamiing Centre for Sustainable Lakeshore Living and includes 30 acres (12 ha) of provincially significant wetland on Pigeon Lake and 65 acres (26 ha) of managed forest. The Gamiing Centre offers education and hands-on demonstrations of ecologically sound practices related to lakes and lakeshores in order to further understanding of and participation in activities that balance human needs with the needs of wildlife and natural lake ecosystems.
Other properties
The Conservancy is working with landowners and potential purchasers on a number of other properties throughout the Kawartha bioregion. We are providing our expertise along with creative approaches to achieve win-win conservation arrangements.
In May 2006, Mrs. Alice Sharpe donated her 100-acre (40 ha) property to the Conservancy. “The protection of
our land fits well with our personal values – we feel that the special features of our land need to be protected for generations to come”, says Mrs. Sharpe. 
The Conservancy has discussed a variety of conservation activities with landowners Ralph McKim and Jean Garsonnin for their 240 acre (97 ha) property on the Oak Ridges Moraine near Bethany in the City of Kawartha Lakes. In the spring of 2006, in partnership with Kawartha Conservation, a controlled burn was conducted on a 20 acre (8 ha) area of the property to restore tallgrass prairie. The burn allowed for removal of existing vegetation and introduction of new prairie plantings. To help ensure long-term conservation of the prairie site, the owners and the Conservancy have entered into a memorandum of understanding to advance restoration and negotiation of a conservation agreement.
Norman Cowan ensured ongoing conservation of the largest undeveloped island left in Stoney Lake by donating a conservation agreement on his property to the Conservancy in 2005. Eastern Syndicate Island, located in the Boschink Narrows in Douro-Dummer Township, functions as an important habitat stepping stone for wildlife moving between the lake’s granite north shore and its limestone south shore. Maintaining the 5 acre (2 ha) property in its natural state provides habitat for rare dragonflies, herons, deer and other wildlife. It sustains scenic value for lake residents and visitors while maintaining ecological value, water quality and an undisturbed shoreline.
Mieke Schipper donated a conservation agreement on her 100-acre (40 ha) property south of Bobcaygeon in the City of Kawartha Lakes to the Conservancy in 2002. The property is home to the Gamiing Centre for Sustainable Lakeshore Living and includes 30 acres (12 ha) of provincially significant wetland on Pigeon Lake and 65 acres (26 ha) of managed forest. The Gamiing Centre offers education and hands-on demonstrations of ecologically sound practices related to lakes and lakeshores in order to further understanding of and participation in activities that balance human needs with the needs of wildlife and natural lake ecosystems.
Our mission is to conserve the natural and cultural heritage and distinctive landscapes of the Kawartha bioregion.
