In 2005, Dundas resident Lorraine Stewart donated land in the Beverly Swamp to the HLT. The resulting Thomas & Mary Young Nature Sanctuary serves as a permanent memorial to Ms. Stewart
If you own land what can you do to protect it forever?
The Head-of-the-Lake Land Trust (HLT) program of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club works with landowners to find the best way to meet our mutual conservation goals and the landowner’s tax and estate planning needs.
HLT staff and volunteers can provide technical and legal information on conservation strategies and on tax benefits of conservation. The HLT also suggests that landowners get independent legal and financial advice.
There are a variety of conservation options, including:
- Outright donation of all or part of a property.
- Donation of land with provision for continued use by the donor.
- Sale at below market value with a charitable donation receipt for
the difference between market value and the sale price (known as a split receipt). - Donation of a conservation easement to permanently protect natural features on all or part of a property, while maintaining private ownership.
- Bequests of land through one’s will to create a nature sanctuary.
- In some cases, the HLT may consider purchase of high priority natural areas at market value.
To learn more or to talk to us about conservation options, please contact: Jen Baker, Head-of-the-Lake Land Trust Coordinator at land@hamiltonnature.org or 905-524-3339
