In 2025, Mark Maitman and Dale Sutton, residents of the City of Kawartha Lakes protected their 56-acre property with a Conservation Easement Agreement to ensure the permanent protection of the natural features on their property…forever.
Not only have Mark and Dale protected the land they love for future generations, but they are active stewards of their land and members of KLT’s Partners in Conservation program.
KLT spoke with Mark and Dale to learn more about the Maitman-Sutton CEA and their reason for protecting it.
How and when did you first discover and acquire your property?
Both of us have always been drawn to forests. When we were able to escape the city 25 years ago, a friend advised us to see the Bethany Hills, about which we knew nothing.
When we were shown this property by a real estate agent, we both headed immediately into the woods rather than the house. We were sold before setting foot inside the house.
What do you love and appreciate about nature in the Kawarthas?
When friends and family visit we are reminded how lucky we are to live on the edge of a mixed forest filled with wildlife. People marvel at all the birds: at some times in the year, as many as 16 species can be seen just outside our window.
More generally, we love the overall diversity of this area – from hardwood forests to grasslands, to the many lakes and rivers — there is always something new to discover.
What was your motivation to protect your land by partnering with Kawartha Land Trust on a Conservation Easement Agreement?
It seems the least we can do — to protect a small but important piece of the environment from being developed or otherwise mistreated. Also, some of our friends in this area had already taken this step, so we were inspired by their example.
What are your favourite parts/natural features of the Maitman-Sutton CEA?
The first feature is its diversity: we have fields where there are long vistas to enjoy; impenetrable cedar swamps that are home to abundant wildlife, and of course the maple forest just outside our door.
The pond is home to so many species: fish, toads, frogs, Painted Turtles, and of course, the visiting water birds, from ducks to herons, that surprise us from time to time. But it is the hardwood forest that rejuvenates us. When the derecho of 2022 hit hard, we were devastated, but we have since developed even more appreciation for nature’s ability to regenerate, given the chance.
Do you have a favourite moment in nature on your property that you’d like to share?
There are so many. The return of the hummingbirds between May 5th and 12th each year is our sign that summer has arrived. Watching Hairy Woodpeckers parenting their hopelessly inept young with infinite patience each spring is better than any TV comedy.
Recently, Mark discovered that he had unwittingly formed a relationship with the Painted Turtles, just by being around the pond frequently over the years, never feeding them or trying to get too close.
They always swim away from shore when any animal approaches; but now, when only a few feet away, they will look back, stop, and swim back towards him, treading water with heads up, apparently in a gesture of greeting. Then, if he walks around to the other side of the pond, they will likely swim across to meet him there.
An important feature of your land that you are protecting is that it is part of a vital wildlife corridor in your region. What species have you seen on your land that benefit from the connected habitats?
Healthy fauna population, apart from the birds and pond dwellers, includes deer, turkeys, coyotes, foxes, racoons, skunks, and one bear. The bear crosses the property two or three times a year.
What does nature and caring for nature mean to you personally?
Every day we are reminded of the interconnectedness of everything on this Earth, and how fragile the health of the land, the water, the air and all of us who share the planet are.
Perhaps we cannot do much to mitigate climate change at a macro level, but we can affect this small area. We can do something.
What would you say to other landowners thinking about protecting their land or natural elements on their land for future generations? What has this process meant to you?
KLT, and in particular our contact Thom Unrau, was there every step of the way, guiding us through and never pushing or showing impatience with our timetable. He made the process itself painless. What would we say? We would ask, “What’s stopping you?”
You can learn more about the Maitman-Sutton-CEA in our 2025 announcement.
We offer our thanks to Mark and Dale for protecting the land they love and speaking with us about why the chose to protect their land. Thank you!
If you would like to learn more about Conservation Easement Agreements, you can do so on our website, or reach out to us at [email protected] or 705-743-5599 to speak with us or request information materials.
If you would like to directly support KLT’s conservation work in the Kawarthas, please make a donation.
Your gift will help preserve natural and working lands in the Kawarthas and support their ongoing care.
