Rainbow Island is now safe in the hands of the Cowichan Land Trust.
Chemainus naturalist Carol Milo donated the island in Quamichan Lake to the Land Trust, which has made a commitment to protect the island in its natural state for the benefit of current and future generations of all life.
“This is a wonderful example of someone valuing nature for itself and not for human use,” Land Trust president Jim Ayers said.
Milo purchased Rainbow Island from Rev. Dr. John Sandys-Wunsch, a retired Anglican priest and professor of theology who lived in Victoria. Sandys-Wunsch, who grew up on Maple Bay Road and went to high school in Duncan, frequently rowed in Quamichan Lake. In 1956, he saw a “for sale” sign on the island and bought it for $20. Aside from the occasional visit, he never did anything with the island. Sandys-Wunsch died last September at the age of 79.
Rainbow Island is home to many birds and animals. Last summer, Milo and Land Trust workers put nesting boxes on the island for purple martins. Joining the Land Trust in protecting the island are the Quamichan Stewardship Society and the Municipality of North Cowichan. “I hope this donation will complement the work of the Quamichan Stewards in protecting and restoring the health of the lake,” Milo said.
The Cowichan Land Trust celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. In that time, it has worked to protect the Cowichan Valley through education, land acquisition, conservation covenants (like the one with North Cowichan and the Quamichan Stewards to manage Rainbow Island) and community stewardship projects.
Other land-acquisition projects the Land Trust has been involved in include the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, the Holland Creek Trail Corridor in Ladysmith, and Sansum Point Regional Park.
Educational activities include landowner contact programs, the Watershed Warriors, support for Streamkeeper programs, and the creation of the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre. Current community programs include the Friends of Cowichan Creeks project and the Marvelous Marshes wetland project.
For more information about the Cowichan Land Trust or to get involved, visit www.cowichanlandtrust.ca or call 250-746-0227.