Sycamore Land Trust adds 2 parcels in Beanblossom conservation area

The land trust has purchased two properties totaling 115 acres that will be added to the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve, which is near Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve and part of the area in the Beanblossom Creek Bicentennial Conservation Area. The conservation area covers roughly 20,000 acres, from north of Lake Lemon following Beanblossom Creek eastward to just south of Gosport. It was established as part of the state’s Bicentennial Nature Trust as one of five special conservation areas in Indiana.

The new land has pushed Sycamore Land Trust’s total acres to more than 2 square miles, or 1,345 acres, within the Beanblossom Creek Bicentennial Conservation Area. The land trust has been trying to acquire and preserve land in the conservation area to provide habitat for wildlife and native plant species in connected areas or nearby land to better preserve open natural spaces.

Money from the Bicentennial Nature Trust, which is a project begun by former Gov. Mitch Daniels, was used to purchase the land, along with contributions Sycamore Land Trust has received from its members and others. In all, Sycamore Land Trust was granted $1 million from the Bicentennial Nature Trust. Part of the stipulation when using the money is that the land trust must match the funding it was given. All the funds in the Bicentennial Nature Trust must be used by the end of 2017, which will happen, according to Abby Perfetti, communications director with Sycamore Land Trust.