The Heritage Forest Commission was established in 2001 following the formation of the Brown Property Preservation Society which was established to raise funds through public donation for the purchase of the 50 acres of forested lands from the Brown family. Initially the purpose of the Commission was to formulate a registered Conservation Covenant to protect and manage the Heritage Forest as a nature park for the appreciation and enjoyment of nature by the public in perpetuity. The Covenant was successfully legally executed in 2008 and the Commission continues to provide good management and development of the Heritage Forest consistent with the Conservation Covenant.
The Brown Property Preservation Society (BPPS) was formed to raise funds through public donations for the purchase of the Lands with the intent to protect the Lands from development. From 1996 to 2004, hundreds of BPPS volunteers worked on events to raise funds and to stimulate donations for the purchase of the 50 acre forested Lands. With the addition of funds for park reserves from the Town of Qualicum Beach, the Lands were purchased.
Along with the Lands purchase, the ‘Brown Property’ became known as the ’Heritage Forest’ in 2001 and a Forest Commission was formed. Membership consists of 2 Town Council members, 2 members of the Brown Property Preservation Society and 1 public member. The role of the Heritage Forest Commission was initially to formulate a registered conservation covenant to protect and manage the Heritage Forest in perpetuity. The covenant was signed on July 15th, 2008 and formed a legal partnership between the Town of Qualicum Beach, the Brown Property Preservation Society and The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC). The current role of the Commission is management of the Forest.
The overall mandate of the covenant is to protect the Lands from development, and for the Lands to be used as a nature park for the appreciation and enjoyment of nature by the public in perpetuity.
View the Heritage Forest Brochure
Click below to view the binder of newspaper clippings, Liese and John Lowe-Wylde donated, documenting the fundraising efforts by volunteers and the history of the Heritage Forest.
