A Permanent Place for Storytelling
Storytelling is an ageless joy that keeps getting better. At several Black Swamp Conservancy-protected properties, families have enjoyed walking Storybook Trails for several years.
Along the Maumee: Rotary Riverside Preserve
Thirty-five acres of mostly flood-prone farmland along the Maumee River near the North Turkeyfoot Wildlife Area in Henry County are about to be returned to natural habitats. Work is scheduled to start in June on this property that is full of potential.
Bell Woods: A New Acquisition
Those who have joined us for wildflower walks through Bell Woods know just what an incredibly special place it is. In early spring, the great blue herons return to their rookery in an ancient sycamore tree near the center of the property to re-establish nests and raise the next generation.
Weisgerber-Pohlmann Restoration Underway
Nature and time do most of the work on a restoration project. The staff of the Black Swamp Conservancy and our contractors help habitat development along. We restore topography for water retention, connect habitat that had been separated, and reintroduce native plants and encourage them to get their feet down deep and become well established. On the 75-acre Weisgerber-
Pohlmann Nature Preserve north of Defiance, we are doing that and a little more to rebuild a diverse habitat.
Conservancy Accreditation Renewed
The Black Swamp Conservancy is excited to share that our status as an accredited land trust program has been renewed. This endorsement is a mark of distinction that confirms the organization has strong leadership, uses best fiscal practices, and maintains the tools and operations to remain permanent stewards of the land it protects. It demonstrates confidence in our business practices and land management techniques.
Christmas Comes Early to the Conservancy
The Toussaint Shooting Club features 1,100+ acres of coastal marshland wrapped in more than a mile of Lake Erie shoreline. It’s the second-longest stretch of undeveloped shoreline left unprotected on Lake Erie – at least until December 22nd when we officially protect the property with a conservation easement.
StoryWalk Invites Wandering Readers
Any walk through a lush prairie garden opens the imagination and creates a sense of joy and wonder. Add a story to your stroll and a simple walk becomes a fresh exploration.
Building a New Nature Preserve in Seneca County
A new, large restoration initiative on a major tributary of the Sandusky River will soon become Seneca County’s newest park, a wholly natural area.
Innovative Partnership Will Create Living Laboratory
The Conservancy’s newest conservation project will protect a parcel of land that was threatened by development and, instead, create a living laboratory for students at Otsego schools to explore and supplement their classroom learning.
Ensuring Conservation Permanence
As stewards for more than 150 properties totaling nearly 20,000 acres, our staff and dedicated volunteers spend a lot of time in the field. We visit each of our properties at least once every year to monitor the conservation agreement.
