Why we love Nellie!

2026.10.19

Who doesn’t love a great story!

In 1981 a World War II veteran donated 100 acres to Wollaston Township in memory of his beloved Nellie Lunn.  He wanted the people of the township to have a place where they could enjoy the wilderness that they themselves loved.

On this land you find wetlands, forests, streams, and all manner of wildlife.  You find the rare Blandings Turtle, listed as ‘threatened’ under the Ontario Endangered Species Act.  You find a nesting pair of Northern/American Goshawks. 

For many years the public has enjoyed this wilderness experience thanks to the donation made almost 50 years ago.

It’s a place where people can come together:

• To build trails and boardwalks, meeting their neighbours and fostering a sense of community while doing something for the common good,

• To plant trees as part of the regeneration plan, bringing the Bancroft Scouts, Bancroft Area Stewardship Committee and Community Integration to our Township,

• To just enjoy nature in a non-motorized wilderness experience.

It raises the profile of Wollaston as a great place to visit and to live.  The Family Day Fishing Derby on nearby Urbach Lake brought nearly 100 people out on a winter’s day to experience the beauty that Wollaston Township has to offer.

It complements the recreational offering in the Township alongside our lakes and motorized trails.  It is to Coe Hill what Eagle’s Nest is to Bancroft – our unique wilderness feature.  It is the largest recreational green space in the Township portfolio.  It is largely self-sustaining, requiring minimal investment to operate. 

What’s not to love!

If you would like a response to a particular question, please send it to me at jd@jd4Wollaston.ca.  I’ll be posting in several Facebook groups along with my webpage www.jd4Wollaston.ca so unless you send it to me directly, it may get missed.