A large parcel of land on the West side of Saint John is now under protection. Jane Barry of the Nature Trust of New Brunswick says 122 acres of marshland, shoreline and forests in Saints Rest have been donated to the group for preservation.
Barry tells CHSJ News the land has a rich history—about 300 years ago it was diked by Acadian settlers, and the settlers used the dried-up area for harvesting hay. In the 1940s, the the dikes were washed away and the land became reclaimed by the Bay of Fundy. Now, it's one of the largest salt water marshes in the area.
The area is home to the American black duck and the Savannah Sparrow, along with a number of rare plant species.
The Nature Trust of New Brunswick is hosting a reception and tour of the new nature preserve, called Saints Rest Marsh-F. Gordon Carvell, on Tuesday from 1-2pm, starting at the Tourism Information Centre.
