Native Plant Sale
Our Native Plant Sale in May was a success! Thank you to Citizen Coalition for Wildlife and Environment for presenting on the importance of native plants and for our many vendors for sharing their variety of natives with everyone. We had a number of native plant sellers and a great presentation that got the audience learning about the many intricacies of native gardening. Time to get planting!
A Conservation Conversation
We hosted “A Conservation Conversation” which focused on conservation efforts, past and future, on Grand Island. After participants readily shared why they love to live on the island and why they chose to reside here, the discussion turned to how we can protect the qualities that we love and appreciate.
GINA member, Robbyn Drake, prompted the conversation and Diane Evans, a GI Conservation Advisory Board member, shared how the board is working towards creating a natural resource inventory. The inventory will look at a variety of items: such as the types of soils, plants, and animal species the island has, as well as headwater and wetland qualities. The inventory is crucial to adopt an Open Space Plan, which is the ultimate goal.
Sarah Costlow of Western New York Land Conservancy then shared how land has been preserved on the island through conservation easements and how this process works. The land trust has been working to protect lands on the island in the 8 counties of Western New York from development, with the goal of permanent preservation. Oftentimes, they open up the preserved land to the public with trail opportunities. On Grand Island, the 36-acre Alt Preserve is now protected. The preserve and accompanying nature center provides a great example of how their land entered into the easement agreement and how it is now used for educational and environmental opportunities with the nonprofit group, Citizen Coalition for Wildlife and Environment, working there.
It was a great discussion that prompted lots of thoughts around keeping our island centered on a recreational and a natural environment!
