Imagine

Today, we got to take a "sneak peek" at a new Nature reserve on Milgate Road, just east of Centreton. The Rae Blackwell Reserve. Handy signs at nearby intersections made the property easy to find.

The Northumberland Land Trust is full of visionaries. Visionaries like this land owner, Graeme Harris. He and his partner took care of this land for 30 years and were hoping that it would be freely enjoyed by furture generations.

Graeme took a minute to educate us about the invasive Dog Strangling Vine.

There are around 2 km of mown pathways through the 72 acre parcel of land.

Imagine coming home from a busy day at the office and being able to freely walk here with your friends, or your camera or your family.

Or just by yourself.

Today, we were fortunate to have some very knowledgeable folks with us who helped us look for tiny frogs and other creatures who make this place their home. Imagine great-grand-frogs having this environment to thrive in into perpetuity.

I was expecting mosquitoes and possibly the odd blackfly....

.... but the only insect I saw was this bee. The air was crisp and clean...

.... and still smelled wonderful from last night's rain.

All of those boots managed to miss this beautiful mushroom.

Imagine in the future, new friendships happening on these trails.

Imagine to be able to take the "road less travelled".....

... and stand in amazement at the beauty of of virgin species like oak and maple and hemlock and white and yellow birch and pine and, and, and...

... looking down - turkey tails....

... and why is it that maple keys spread themselves so evenly when they fall?

Imagine, 100 years from now, folks marvelling at the clarity of the headwater of the Shelter Valley Creek system - even after a heavy rainfall.

Until you step into an environment like this one, you cannot imagine how you feel after having spent time there. It was wonderful.

Imagine our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren being able to freely walk these paths and be calmed by the presence of the natural world.

Once the severance and other necessities have been taking care of, the Rae-Blackwell preserve will be one of the Trust's properties that are open to the public, Yay!

🍂

“If you don't imagine,

nothing ever happens at all.”

John Green