A message from Robert Bateman

Dear Friend.

Of all the wondrous places that I have known on our living planet, the Niagara Escarpment holds a special place in my heart.  I raised my children within sight of the Escarpment’s towering cliffs and taught students who spent their summers exploring its rocky hardwood forests. With my dear friend Raymond Lowes, I also helped create the 725-kilometre-long Bruce Trail, Canada’s longest and oldest footpath. This marvel snakes along the Escarpment’s bony spine all the way from Niagara Falls to Tobermory. 

The inspiration for much of my art, the Escarpment also provides a haven for wildlife amid the hustle and bustle of Ontario. Walking ferns, cardinal flowers and showy lady’s slippers appear each spring beneath the canopy of some of this continent’s few remaining ancient forests. Trout and Atlantic salmon splash in the Escarpment’s rivers, which are also a source for much of the province’s drinking water. Cliffs and woodlands give way to orchards, vineyards and farm fields.  

These are but a few of the features that make the Escarpment an extraordinary part of our collective heritage – and all the more reason why it is incumbent upon us to preserve its splendour for future generations. 

The need to respect and care for our natural heritage led to the establishment of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve in 1990.  In recent years, as funds to care for the Escarpment have diminished, it has become apparent that a new source of support is needed. For this reason, I am so pleased to be part of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Fund. It is a significant step forward for the continued stewardship of this internationally significant natural and cultural treasure.

Building upon the spirit and principles of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve, the new fund will acquire land for parks and walking trails, it will support educational and cultural programs, and pay for scientific research. It will protect the Escarpment’s flora and fauna, preserve its towering forests and ensure that this jewel will be a delight for generations to come.

I endorse the work of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Fund, commend the committed volunteers who are leading it and encourage you to give generously to help preserve this icon of Ontario’s natural heritage: the Niagara Escarpment.

 

 

 

Robert Bateman