The Western New York Land Conservancy has been busy on Grand Island. The nonprofit land trust plans to open a 44-acre nature preserve to the public in the coming weeks and hopes to close on two new preserves totaling about 100 acres before the end of this year. A toad hides among fallen leaves at the preserve.
If all goes according to plan, the total acreage protected by the Land Conservancy on Grand Island would come to 376 acres, or about 2% of the island. “Our primary purpose is ecological protection,” said Marisa Riggi, executive director of the Land Conservancy. “We’re looking to provide a place for people and families to come and enjoy nature (and) see some huge, beautiful trees that you may not get to see, and also experience what a nature preserve that is conserved for wildlife is like.
” Grand Island splits the Niagara River in half just north of Buffalo and is home to biodiverse forests and wetlands supporting an array of rare animals and habitats. It’s also been subject to residential, commercial and industrial development as well as recreational development such as golf courses and amusement parks. Tall trees tower over the Love Road Preserve in Grand Island on Tuesday, Oct.
29, 2024. The Land Conservancy’s Love Road Preserve, which is expected to open to public access with a hiking trail on Nov. 8, brings users away from the hustle and bustle and into a natural oasis.
It’s located on Love Road about 2.5 miles west from the intersection with South P.
