Frequently Asked Questions & Links
What is The Couchiching Conservancy? Are you a part of the Government? Or Conservation Authority?
The Couchiching Conservancy is a non-profit , non-government land trust, with a broad community membership. Land trusts acquire and retain important properties for the benefit of the public. The Couchiching Conservancy protects more than 14,000 acres of ecologically significant land in the Orillia region, either through direct ownership, partnerships with other organizations such as The Nature Conservancy of Canada, or through conservation easement agreements with private landowners. The Conservancy also promotes good stewardship with private landowners and other partners. The Conservancy is not part of government but works with all levels of government and government agencies.
What uses are generally permitted on the reserves?
It is important to tread lightly on the land and reduce the impact we are having on nature and the species who call it home.
- Nature appreciation
- Photography
- Hiking
- Cross-country skiing (trails are not groomed)
- Snowshoeing
- Birdwatching
- Dog walking, as long as you keep your pet(s) on a leash. This is for their safety and the enjoyment of others
Can I bring a group to a nature reserve?
Yes, groups are permitted to visit the nature reserves that are open to the public.
For groups interested in visiting Grant's Woods Nature Reserves, we ask that you contact our office to book the date. This Reserve is also the location of our office and we have regular meetings and activities, so the parking lot can fill up quickly. A bus will not fit in our parking area and there is not enough space to turn around. We do not have Education staff, but may be able to connect you with a Conservancy volunteer if you are looking for a walk leader.
You can also check our Events Calendar to ensure there are not activities planned on other nature reserves.
If you are visiting the Carden Alvar and specifically Wylie Road, please be respectful of other visitors - do not block the road.
How do you fund the work you do?
The Conservancy is a membership-based organization and receives contributions and donations from its members and supporters. To support specific projects, the Conservancy will seek donations and grants from foundations, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the provincial and federal government. Our goal is to diversify our funding sources to maintain independence and long-term sustainability.
Do you protest development, quarries, garbage dumps or other environmental threats?
No, the Conservancy does not get involved in lobbying or political activity. The Conservancy has sought to bring about change through “third way thinking” rather than using an adversarial or advocacy approach. From time to time, the Conservancy may provide information to a government or community organization involved in an environmental issue. As well, the Conservancy may be able to help provide a solution to an environmental issue through development of a conservation easement (such as Scout Valley in Orillia) or out-right acquisition of threatened lands.
What areas do you cover?
The Couchiching Conservancy was established by concerned naturalists in Orillia and surrounding region. The key regions include:
- Carden Alvar
- Black River Wildlands
- Bass Lake West
- Matchedash Wildlands
- Minesing to Matchedash
What uses are prohibited?
Off-leash dogs
Paintball
Feeding wildlife
Collection of material such as picking wildflowers, removal of wood, fossils, etc.
ATVs/off-road vehicles
Mountain biking
Harvesting and foraging
Hunting
Camping
Shelters and stands
Trapping
Swimming
Can we have our family / engagement / etc photos taken on a reserve?
Yes, photographers need to book a date and time with our office and pay the associated fee. You can download the Booking Info Sheet here.
Do you have employees or is your organization run by volunteers?
The Conservancy has a mix of paid staff and volunteers. Sometimes university and college students supplement our paid staff during the field season. However, the Conservancy could not function without volunteers. Each nature reserve and easement in our care is monitored by a team of volunteers, overseen by staff. There are hundreds of volunteers registered with the Conservancy, including a governing Board of Directors. We are continually seeking new volunteers.
I found an injured animal - will you take it?
We are not a wildlife rehabilitation organization. Please visit www.ontariowildliferescue.ca for information on who to call.
Where are all of the nature reserves? Can I go on them?
The Conservancy nature reserves and easements are across the broad region and are accessible to the public (except where the stewardship plan precludes open access). See our Nature Reserve & Easement Map for the location of some of our properties. Trails have been developed at some of the Reserves.
Can I bring a group to a nature reserve?
Yes, groups are permitted to visit the nature reserves that are open to the public.
For groups interested in visiting Grant's Woods Nature Reserves, we ask that you contact our office to book the date. This Reserve is also the location of our office and we have regular meetings and activities, so the parking lot can fill up quickly. A bus will not fit in our parking area and there is not enough space to turn around. We do not have Education staff, but may be able to connect you with a Conservancy volunteer if you are looking for a walk leader.
You can also check our Events Calendar to ensure there are not activities planned on other nature reserves.
If you are visiting the Carden Alvar and specifically Wylie Road, please be respectful of other visitors - do not block the road.
How do you acquire properties? Do people give them to you? Or buy them?
The Conservancy has priority regions and actively seeks properties within these regions of environmental significance. The individual properties may be donated, acquired through purchase following a fundraising campaign, acquired through partnerships with other organizations (such as Ontario Heritage Trust, Ontario Parks or the Nature Conservancy of Canada). The Conservancy also holds Conservation Easements on private properties. These easements are donated by the owners of the properties with mutually agreed upon restrictions. The easements are registered on the title of the properties. Ownership remains with the land owner and the easement stays with the property once it is sold.
Links & Resources
One of the original objects of The Couchiching Conservancy is to promote and undertake research and data collection on the natural environment, and to distribute the findings to the public. While it is vitally important to keep locations of species at risk confidential to avoid poaching and other threats, the Conservancy has become a repository of information about local nature, some of which is included here. We also cooperate with supporters, such as mycology enthusiast Dr. Nancy Ironside, to retain data and make it available to the public.
List of Archived Articles:
Towards an Integrated Carden Conservation Strategy Part 1: Healthy Ecosystems & Species at Risk published June 2008
Grassland and Shrubland Birds within the Carden Plain: Recent Monitoring Results published January 2011
Carden area species list (Provided by The Nature Conservancy of Canada) Please note: this is an Excel spreadsheet file.
Have you seen an unusual insect? Want to share your experience of an Osprey sighting or ask a question of a fellow nature-lover? Follow this link to the Simcoe Nature Board to find out more about natural happenings and sightings in Simcoe County.
Species found on the Carden Plain download this Excel spreadsheet: Carden area species list (Provided by The Nature Conservancy of Canada).
Brochures and Booklets
Booklet outlining best practices and guidelines for farmers and land-owners for hay and pasture management. Download a copy of the Managing Hay & Pasture Booklet in PDF format
Carden Nature Guide – map of the area, directions and info.
Flora of Carden – Interested in learning about the different plants that thrive in Carden? Click one of the links below to download the booklet. Open in Issuu ~ Open in PDF
Newsletters and Articles of Interest
A Sense of Place by Lynn Pady – Click here to open the PDF document. You can re-size the document using the buttons (+ or -) at the top or bottom of the PDF document (best size is 75-100%).
Wildlife Preservation Canada – Home on the Range, Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery newsletter (links to newsletter are on the right hand side of their website)
NCC Creative Conservation Challenge by Cameron Curran – a look back at Cam’s year, with highlights from work done with The Couchiching Conservancy on the alvar.
Video: THE LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE from Larry E McPherson
Wildlife Preservation Canada: Recovering the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike. Take the first peak at behind-the-scenes footage of our efforts to save one of Canada’s most endangered songbirds. Never before available to the public, this short video follows lead biologist Hazel Wheeler and her team in the field where they prepare to release conservation-bred birds to the wild to help recover the population. Watch here.