February 2025

Graphic features a hiker on a trail, with a forest overlay and trail signs that read "Open House, Guided Walks, Conservation Work Party, Scavenger Hunt." Text reads "Drop-in Day. Sat, March 15" "Prue's House, 9600 Mandus Olson Rd" with the Stand for the Grand Forest logo and partner logos.

27 Feb Grand Forest Drop-In Day

Events Mac Davenport Saturday, March 15 9:30am-2pm | Prue's House at Hilltop | 9600 Mandus Olson Rd Join us at Grand Forest Drop-in Day for an opportunity to explore the Grand Forest East and get involved with the Land Trust's effort to protect it! Learn about the Stand for the Grand Forest campaign and connect with partners at our drop-in Open House, volunteer at the hands-on conservation work party, hit the trails on a guided nature walk, or go for an outdoor adventure with our forest scavenger hunt! Hosted by the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, with support from the BI Parks & Trails Foundation and the BI Metro Park & Recreation District. Open House 9:30am-2pm • Prue's House Drop in to learn about the history of the Grand Forest East & our community-led effort to protect it! Chat with campaign partners from the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and BI Parks & Trails Foundation, as well as local conservation experts. Bagels and light refreshments will be served. This is a free, come-and-go event—no registration is needed for the open house. Scavenger Hunt 9:30am-2pm • Start at Prue's House Go on an adventure to discover details in the forest and search for Hooty the Owl hidden in the trees. Fun for curious minds of all ages! Drop in to Prue's House at anytime during the open house to pick up your Scavenger Hunt sheet. Complete the scavenger hunt to win a prize! Find Hooty the Owl! Conservation Work Party 10am-12pm • Meet at Prue's House The Bainbridge Island Land Trust and the BI Metro Park & Recreation District will be leading a joint work party in the Grand Forest East, initiating our ongoing partnership to restore and steward this treasured land. Volunteer with us to help remove invasive species and maintain a healthy forest habitat....
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21 Feb Bainbridge Island Land Trust, with the support of the Parks & Trails Foundation, launches campaign to protect 39 acres as public park at Grand Forest East

News Mac Davenport BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA – The Bainbridge Island Land Trust with the support of the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation have launched a campaign to raise funds to protect 39 acres at Grand Forest East, allowing purchase by the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District.   The Park District on February 21, 2025, announced its intent to purchase the property, contingent on a successful fundraising campaign. With negotiations now underway, the fundraising campaign, Stand for the Grand Forest, is expected to be over $2 million, said Cullen Brady, Executive Director, Bainbridge Island Land Trust.  The Board of the Bainbridge Island School District voted to surplus the 39-acre property. “This is an urgent campaign,” Brady said. “The School District’s January 9, 2025, action to surplus and sell this property, among their first order of business in the new year, started the clock ticking. We need the community to join us in protecting the Grand Forest as we know and enjoy it.”  The parcel is adjacent to Grand Forest East and has long been maintained as part of the Island’s park, trail, and nature preserve networks. Partners hope to complete the fundraising campaign and purchase by the Park District this spring. “Acquiring this property and formally protecting it for conservation and recreation has been a longtime goal of the Park District, and this is an opportunity to realize that goal,” said Dan Hamlin, Executive Director of the Park & Recreation District. “We can’t make this purchase without the community’s help, so we’re thrilled that the Land Trust and Parks & Trails Foundation are partnering on this fundraising campaign.”   The property holds significant conservation value for forest, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience. This campaign is associated with the Land Trust’s ongoing acquisition movement, dedicated to conserving the Island’s most cherished natural habitats. The Land...
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Boy holding an uprooted English holly plant at a work party in Cougar creek Preserve

18 Feb 2025 Wednesday Work Parties

Events Mac Davenport Meet new people, visit unique conservation lands, and support the Land Trust’s ongoing stewardship efforts! Volunteer at one of our Work Parties on the first Wednesday of every month from 9:00-11:00am. Current volunteers, sign up using our Volunteer Portal.  First time volunteering with the Land Trust? Fill out a volunteer interest form and we’ll be in touch! Learn more about our work parties here. Please reach out to Sarah Keller with any questions. 2025 Work Party Calendar Subject to Change January 8: Wildlife Corridor February 5: Miller-Kirkman Preserve (Cancelled) March 5: Cougar Creek Preserve April 2: Springbrook Creek Preserve May 7: Day Rd. Conservation Easement June 4: Gazzam Expansion July 2: Quitslund Preserve August 6: Sunrise Dr. Conservation Easement September 3: Manzanita Ridge Preserve October: No Work Party—come to our Native Plant Sale! November 5: Springbrook Creek Preserve December 3: Rockaway Bluff Preserve Pictured: Volunteer holding an uprooted invasive English Holly plant at a work party in Cougar Creek Preserve. Photo © Sue Larkin
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Two herons interact at their nest

04 Feb A Rare Chance to Conserve Winslow’s Great Blue Heron Rookery

News Mac Davenport The Land Trust plans to acquire shoreline to protect critical habitat for the iconic Great Blue Heron Bainbridge Island, WA — January 28, 2025 Along a stretch of shoreline on Eagle Harbor, you’ll hear the echoes of the sounds of Herons and rustling trees above – this is a place where Great Blue Herons return year after year to nest. This special place isn’t just a piece of land; it’s a home for wildlife and a beloved sanctuary in our community. The Bainbridge Island Land Trust is excited to announce a new project to protect the Winslow Rookery, a vital nesting site for Great Blue Herons located on Lovell Avenue. This effort is part of the ongoing Stand for the Land movement, dedicated to conserving the Island’s most cherished natural habitats. The Winslow Rookery, established for decades, is one of the few known Great Blue Heron nesting sites on Bainbridge Island. With approximately 30 nests, it plays a crucial role in the life cycle of these majestic birds, which are considered a sensitive species by the Washington State Department of Ecology. In April 2024, two undeveloped waterfront parcels encompassing the rookery were listed for sale, prompting community concern over potential development impacts on this essential habitat. Recognizing the ecological significance of the rookery, the Land Trust is now working to acquire and permanently protect the portion of the property with the greatest number of bird nests. “The Great Blue Heron is an iconic species on this Island, and the Winslow Rookery is indispensable for their continued presence here,” said Cullen Brady, Executive Director of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. “Conserving this habitat aligns with our mission to conserve and steward the diverse natural environments of Bainbridge Island for the benefit of all.” LEARN MORE This is a rare opportunity to safeguard...
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