The Conservationist of the Year Award winners are Peter Warner and his late wife Esther. Ausable Bayfield Conservation honoured the Warners, at a ceremony on March 16, for their many years of dedicated conservation, stewardship, and education.
A couple from Grand Bend have been named Conservationists of the Year by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority.
Peter Warner and his late wife Esther were presented the award, for their protection of forests, meadows and wetlands on their 60 acre property, Merrywood Farms.
“Over the past 25 years Peter and Esther took many steps to improve the natural features of their property, working with ABCA staff to plant tree buffers, create a Managed Forest Plan, and host local students for environmental education and tree planting,” a news release from the ABCA says.
In the spring of 2022, Peter restored the remaining 15 acres of land by planting more than 7,000 native-species trees.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation presents the winner with a hand-crafted gift and makes a donation towards a tree and plaque at a Commemorative Woods site maintained by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation.