Neighbor News
RI Foundation grant will protect Bristol’s McIntosh Wildlife Refuge
A $45,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation will strengthen protections in Bristol and other nearby refuges.
A raven croaks from the tree-line at the edge of the Audubon Society’s 28-acre Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge in Bristol. Flanked on either side by housing developments, the land slopes down from historic Hope Street to the Warren River near Jacob’s Point. There’s even a boardwalk that winds through fresh and saltwater marshes to the water.
A $45,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation will strengthen protections for the Bristol refuge and nearly 10,000 more acres of Audubon land, including nearby Touisset Marsh in Warren, the Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge in Tiverton and the Pequahonk Common Lands in Little Compton.
“Preserving land is a natural for us. It protects the environment, offers stunning places for the community to hike, and keeps the Bay and vital aquifers clean,” said Chris Barnett, a spokesman for the Foundation.
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Most of Audubon’s 15 wildlife refuges are open to the public and have groomed trails for hiking and nature study. The Bristol Environmental Education Center at the McIntosh refuge offers guided tours, nature walks and special family programs throughout the year. The facility and trails are handicapped accessible.
“Our history of land protection dates back more than 90 years. Today we are Rhode Island’s largest independent land trust. Now we can create management plans for all of nearly 10,000 acre property and conservation easements and continue to train volunteer property monitors in our effort to win national accreditation from the Land Trust Alliance,” said Lawrence J.F. Taft, executive director.
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Among the upcoming activities at the Bristol center are the Perfect Pumpkin Party, Oct. 28; the Bird & Wildlife Carving Exposition, Nov. 4-5; and the annual Christmas tree sale, Dec. 2.
The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2016, the Foundation awarded a record $45 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising, and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit www.rifoundation.org.