Protected property

Nature Conservancy of Canada acquires 128 acres in Blooming Point for conservation and public use

As kids growing up on P.E.I., Eddy and Steve MacGillivray had fond memories of large gatherings at their family’s property at Blooming Point on Tracadie Bay. On Friday, the brothers said goodbye to that property as a result of the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s acquisition of the land for conservation purposes. The acquisition announcement of the 128-acre property about 30 kilometres north of Charlottetown was made at a press conference at Dalvay by the Sea. The Nature Conservancy of Canada acquired the land adjacent to Blooming Point beach through purchase and donation under the federal government’s Ecological Gifts Program. The property is the 27th on P.E.I. to be conserved through the program, more than any other province, said John Foley, Atlantic vice-president of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “These are put aside for the local people to use, more than anything,” he said, “connecting people to the land. And, that’s what we’re trying to do right across the country, not just on P.E.I. So, we’re trying to get the kids out away from their TVs and their remotes, and adults as well. Give them a place to get out and enjoy nature.”

Eddy MacGillivray said the family acquired part of the property in 1860 for 100 British pounds and four shillings. In 1880, an additional 90 acres was purchased for $40.30 from the Dominion of Canada. The brothers said it is good to see that the land is going to be protected by the organization for future generations. Even so, there’s a lot of memories visiting the property and the old farmhouse as kids. Both sides of the family had a lot of relatives, which could result in some large gatherings. “On Sundays, it wouldn’t be unusual between the two families to have 50 or 60 people at the farmhouse for potlucks, lobster from the bay and clams,” said Eddy MacGillivray. “And cranberries,” added Steve MacGillivray. “Lots of fond memories.” The property has an Acadian forest, freshwater wetland, a salt marsh and sand dunes. In addition, it is the home to plants rare to P.E.I., such as the royal fern and spinulose, as well as the warbler, a bird species that is listed as threatened under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. “This area, because of its ecological importance, popped right out as one area that we needed to work in. “Whether it was going to be developed down the road or not, we had to be proactive and go after it as quick as we could,” said Foley.