Quinte Conservation donations lead to new signage

(Quinte West 17/01/12) Tammy Smith, corporate service manager at Quinte Conservation, displays a sign that was constructed using funds from the Adopt an Acre initiative. Photo by Steph Crosier

By Steph Crosier

Donations from Christmas acre adoptions went to new signage in local conservation areas.

“This year’s donations went to trail signs and signs that identify the conservation area,” said Tammy Smith, corporate service manager at Quinte Conservation. “They will also identify that the sign was made possible through the program.”

Local conservation areas that received new signs include Macaulay Mountain in Picton, Vanderwater east of Thomasburg, and Massassuaga Point on the Bay of Quinte.

“These new signs will make the areas easier to find and will promote healthy, active living in the Quinte region,” said Jennifer May-Anderson, communications and marketing specialist at Quinte Conservation, in a press release.

Smith says they do big blitz during the Christmas season because it is a good stocking stuffer or gift idea. When you purchase an acre you receive a certificate with your name on it or someone else’s name for a gift.

“(People) think it’s a tremendous idea for those hard to buy people,” said Smith.

Even so Smith says Quinte Conservation did not raise as much money this year compared to the 2010 Christmas season

“Its hard to say a reason why,” said Smith

Christmas is not the only time someone can purchase an acre.  Smith said that at anytime acres can be purchased on the Quinte Conservation website.

“We keep a running total of the donations and we identify what we want our achievements to be,” said Smith.  “We wanted 300 acres adopted, and we identified what the projects were going to be.”

Anyone can adopt an acre for the cause. Smith says that most of the donations were from people who work at Quinte Conservation, board members, and many people of the public who heard it advertised.