NCC protects 98 hectares in Freshwater Bay

Freshwater Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador (Photo by Dennis Minty)

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has conserved 98 hectares (243 acres) of Avalon Peninsula coastline at Freshwater Bay, just minutes from St. John’s. The new nature reserve includes a spectacular section of the East Coast Trail along the northern hiking route to Cape Spear. As well as an excellent area for recreation, this is an ecologically important coastal forest that provides habitat for many species and shelter for nearby seabird colonies of black-legged kittiwakes, black guillemots, and great black-backed gulls. 

As with most of NCC's nature reserves, the Freshwater Bay reserve will continue to be accessible for activities like berry picking, hunting and hiking. One of NCC's national Landmark Campaign projects, the Freshwater Bay Nature Reserve was generously donated by the Crosbie Group Ltd, and supported by the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland, the Presentation Sisters, Pattern Family Foundation, Cahill Group, ExxonMobil Ltd and the Government of Canada.