UTRCA gifted ten acres of swamp land
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is adding ten acres of land to their collection.
The Conservation Authority received the donation from Willis Blair to add to the 363 acres of land the Authority already owns.
Lands and Facilities Coordinator Alex Shivas says this is the first donation they have received in many years for Golspie Swamp in Zorra Township.
"This is significant in a number of ways, it was ten acres that split land that we owned on either side so it was great to have a continuous piece of land that we own and manage within the swamp."
The UTRCA says the donated property is an important site for biodiversity in the region and the standing water throughout the year provides habitat for many unique wetland-dependent plants and animals.
Shivas says the land had been in the Blair family for more than 100 years.
"Really nothing can be done with the land and it is provincially significant. There are several reasons why people donate it, they want to make sure the land is protected in the future and I'm sure they want to stop paying taxes on a piece of property that's very difficult to even know where it is within the swamp."
Golspie Swamp is located in Zorra Township just west of Woodstock on Road 74 and east of Line 43 and is also known as Critter Line due to the number of wildlife sightings.
"We went through Eco Gifts through Environment Canada and we needed to obtain an appraisal and a survey, etc. so it does take quite a few years to complete the process and the land was valued at $2000 an acre so we acquired $20,000 worth of property."
Shivas says the Blair family was issued a tax receipt for the donation.
Supplies4Students Returns to Oxford County
Oxford County Power Outages
Woodstock Candidate Profile - Bernia Martin
Oxford OPP Briefs - June 30th
Arpan Khanna Appointed to New Role
Tip Tuesday with the Oxford OPP - June 2026
Annual Highland Games Return to Embro
Woodstock Police Service Briefs - June 30th
Tillsonburg Candidate Profile - Kelly Spencer
Heat Wave Brings Heat Warning
GoFundMe Created Following Work Incident
OPP Remind Public on Helmet Safety
Tillsonburg Candidate Profile - Chris Rosehart
Canada Day Celebrations Coming to Woodstock
Zorra Township Candidate Profile - Katie Grigg
Oxford OPP Continue to Investigate Pride Flag Incidents
Wienerfest Hits Burford Fairgrounds this Weekend
South-West Oxford Candidate Profile - George Klosler
Nostalgia Days Fast Approaching in Norwich
Residential Fire in Tillsonburg
Comments
Add a comment