The Northumberland Land Trust (NLT) is raising money to fund the purchase of a property in Northumberland County. The not-for-profit charity needs to raise $190,000 in order to complete the purchase of the Biddy Creek Wetland in Brighton, scheduled for the end of January 2025. The new reserve will be the largest in NLT’s history.
NLT has partnered with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) to purchase the property as joint owners. The NLT will steward the property which features an untouched wetland rich in biodiversity, with no human development. Hunting will not be permitted.
“The Biddy Creek property is a unique situation because we are splitting the costs with Ducks Unlimited Canada,” said Rob Kennedy, President of NLT. “We are acquiring oversight of 300 acres of pristine habitat for what it would cost to buy a 50-acre vacant lot in Northumberland County at current prices.”
Biddy Creek Wetland borders the south side of Hwy 401, north of Little Lake Road in Brighton. The property comprises two parcels of land that have limited accessibility. A regionally important wetland makes up 60-70% of the property while significant mixed woodlands comprising black cherry, oak, birch, maple, cedar, and white pine make up a portion of the east most parcel. The majority of the property is zoned Environmental Protection in the Northumberland County Official Plan and is a priority for conservation. Its topography resembles the fen wetland areas in northern Ontario rather than southern Ontario lowlands.
“Biddy Creek is an ecologically significant property, combining diverse woodland habitats with 130 acres of regionally significant wetland,” said Marie-Paule Godin, DUC’s Manager of Provincial Operations for Ontario. “This acquisition will protect critical habitats for species at risk and create a lasting natural area that provides flood protection and water filtration for the community. We are grateful to partner with the Northumberland Land Trust to conserve this important ecosystem.”
In southern Ontario, up to 70% of wetlands have been destroyed or degraded, with as much as 95% lost in densely populated areas. As wetlands, grasslands and forest habitats disappear, so too do the many benefits they provide. The acquisition of this property by NLT and DUC will protect this important habitat, ensuring it remains a key ecological and community asset in a rapidly developing region.
