ORIGIN OF WELKER WOODS
Ann and Floyd shared a love for the outdoors and wished for a simpler life. So with their three children under age ten and a Jersey cow, they moved one mile south from Lake Road to set up an organic farmstead on Boston Road in Ontario. There they could enjoy their garden and animals (a dozen chickens and thoroughbred mare along with the cow) and have the freedom to explore the woods behind the house.
“When we learned how Genesee Land Trust worked with our neighbor Janet Smith to create a conservation easement protecting valuable woodland habitat, Ann and I were very interested.”
For many years their children Jamie, MeiMei, and Christina helped with chores and roamed the countryside. Ann co-led campouts in the woods with Girl Scout Brownie troops. The woods provided a quiet respite from the outside noise and a chance to learn about and appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the area. Beyond family picnics and campouts were calling owls, turkey, fox, and singing birds as well as stone walls built years ago that serve as reminders of historic farms.
In the 40 years Ann and Floyd have lived on Boston Road, the number of houses has grown tremendously, making it difficult—or impossible—to create habitats large and varied enough to provide safe homes for wildlife. Disconnecting habitats with yards and roads makes it challenging for wildlife to feel safe and adapt to new conditions like a changing climate.
Welker Woods have been under the long and loving care of Ann and Floyd. Their generous gift of a conservation easement helps to protect their woods as wildlife habitat and a place of quiet meditation for future generations.
A LONG TIME COMING
After Janet Buchanan Smith conserved her land in 1993, forever keeping it home for wildlife, she invited neighbors to an open house for a celebration, walk of the land, and introduction to Genesee Land Trust. Among the guests that day were her backyard neighbors, Ann and Floyd Welker, who shared Janet’s passion for their neighboring land.
“I felt so strongly that this special land is really for the animals, not for houses,” says Janet. Now, she muses, “I am so excited and grateful that Ann and Floyd have protected their woods right next door.”
On that day back in the early 1990s, Ann shared that she and Floyd were excited to hear that there was a way to protect their treasured woods with Genesee Land Trust.
Ann and Floyd have recently accomplished their dream. Adding Welker Woods to the wildlife habitat protected by Janet expands a vitally important habitat for spring and fall migrating birds and resident wildlife. If you’re interested in conserving your land, we are happy to talk with you to explore options. Please reach out to Gay Mills at gmills@geneseelandtrust.org.
