Property Info

The Fairwood Nature Preserve is a 30-acre refuge for nature in the heart of Pointe au Baril. It includes the southwestern portion of a large island, as well as a smaller one-acre island just offshore from the main property. Together, these two areas include 14 different vegetation community types, and provide habitat to at least six (and very likely more) species of conservation concern.

The property contains extensive rock barrens which provide excellent snake habitat. We’ve documented both Prairie Warblers and Eastern Whip-poor-wills making use of the junipers that dot these barrens. These rocky areas are also home to the rare Marbled Grasshopper. Amidst the rocks are large areas of forest, with predominant species being white pine, red oak, red maple, and white cedar. The at-risk Eastern Wood-Pewee can be heard singing in the forest.

The Fairwood Nature Preserve also contains a number of swamps, marshes, and fens, both in the interior of the property and along its shoreline. The area in between the main portion of the property and the small island contains extensive wetlands, which provide important habitat for species at risk, including the Midland Painted Turtle

The protection of this property contributes to the larger environmental health of the surrounding region. There are several shoreline wetland ecosystems just outside the boundaries of the property, which are effectively protected now that the neighbouring landmass is conserved. This island also exists in relatively close proximity to other conservation reserves in the Pointe au Baril area, allowing the species that use those areas to continue to move freely through the landscape.

We thank the owners of the Fairwood Nature Preserve for their conservation vision, and the legacy they’ve chosen to leave for nature in Pointe au Baril.