Adopt an Acre targets new signs for four conservations

By Mo Cranker

BELLEVILLE – Quinte Conservation is running its annual Adopt An Acre program in support of four local conservation areas.

The fundraiser, which has been running for six years, allows people to adopt a plot of land from one of the following conservations:Massassauga Point, Potter’s Creek, Vanderwater and Depot Lakes.

“Every year we give local residents the opportunity to symbolically adopt an acre of Quinte Conservation land for $20. That money is then used to make improvements at the local conservation areas,” said Jennifer May-Anderson, manager of communications at Quinte Conservation.

The funds raised by this year’s programs will be going towards providing the parks with new signs

“Donations are going towards interpretive signage at four of our local conservation areas,”, said May-Anderson. “We want those signs to share important information about the natural heritage of the conservation areas and as well include a trail map and information about invasive species.”

The two main invasive species threatening these areas are the dog strangling vine and European buckthorn, which hurt the growth of other plants.

May-Anderson said she hopes the money raised this year will help educate people who go to the conservations.

As of Wednesday, Quinte Conservation has adopted out 87 plots of land, raising a total of $1,740. Their goal is to raise $4,000 by adopting out 200 plots of land.