Fledgling TLC protects sensitive land

Fledgling TLC protects sensitive land
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published June 28, 2003


The Land Conservancy of B.C., which has raised $14 million to purchase and protect environmentally sensitive lands across the province, is moving its Lower Mainland headquarters into the Eagles' Estate heritage home at Deer Lake this weekend.

The society, which was founded in 1997, now owns more than 9,000 acres of pristine property around the province, and has long-term leases and protective covenants on another 77,000 acres.

"What we do is purchase property and open it up to public use," said Tracy Keeling, communications co-ordinator for the society, which was modelled after the 100-year-old National Trust of the United Kingdom.

While TLC is still relatively young, it has already accomplished some significant land deals in this province. Recently, it garnered headlines for helping to convert the 130-acre Thwaytes Landing property on the west shore of Indian Arm into a public park.

"It's a beautiful site," Keeling said of Thwaytes Landing. "Now we have a landing for people who historically had no place to stop when they were boating on Indian Arm. This site has wonderful old- growth and second-growth forest and its ecological values are significant."

Another well-known property under its wing is the Abkhazi Garden in Victoria, known as 'The Garden of Love' because it was built by Russian prince Nikolas Abkhazi for his wife and princess in 1946. When the last member of the royal family passed away, the property was sold to a developer who was going to build condominiums on the site, until concerned citizens stepped in to purchase the property and donate it to the Land Conservancy.

The Land Conservancy is a member of the Land Trust Alliance of B.C., and is constantly seeking donations to help it purchase and preserve other significant properties in the province.

For more information, visit the TLC Web site at www.conservancy.bc.ca