For Christian Croft, giving to the Nature Trust was a natural step forward. Growing up in Digby, his weekends were often spent exploring the forested acres of his familial home. As Christian puts it, “I was a free-range kid, to say the least. Outside of school, I was always exploring, hiking, biking, and helping my father in the woods”.

Christian’s parents enjoyed birding and often “dragged him along” on their lengthy hikes to spot birds. “I didn’t realize it then, but a connection to nature was seeded by these early experiences.” Christian came to understand this better in 2016 when he and his wife took a trip to Gaspé Bay. “We found ourselves amidst this incredible birding hotspot, encountering species I had never seen before. It reminded me of my childhood, my mom and dad, and my appreciation for the wild. Since that moment, birds have become very special to me”.

Christian first heard about the Nature Trust on CBC Radio in 2019 and recalls a story about lands being purchased and protected for perpetuity, “I thought to myself, I have some disposable income that I could use to buy material “wants,” or instead I could help preserve significant habitats forever.”

Since then, Christian has been a Nature Maker monthly donor, allowing the Nature Trust to plan ahead to save and steward significant lands by providing a reliable stream of unrestricted funds. Furthermore, he is also part of the Nature Trust’s Legacy Circle, granting a future gift that will be made available to the organization upon his passing. By simply filling out a form provided by his bank, Christian joins this group of unique donors whose generosity exceeds their years. “I don’t think about legacies, per se, but I do care about doing what is important and right. I just want to know that I helped,” Christian explains.

“To support the Nature Trust is very meaningful to me. The Nature Trust is doing incredible work, evaluating land for its ecological value and always putting nature first”, says Christian. “As people, we are short-sighted. We are losing biodiversity around the world. I am happy to know I’m helping protect land all over this province, some of which I may never visit myself. We need to preserve what we have left, from the sea to the shore to the forest; it’s all interconnected, as are we. Nature needs saving, and I trust the Trust to get us there.”

People like Christian make a tangible and lasting impact on protecting Nova Scotia’s most special places forever. As he notes, “Maybe you are a hiker or lover of birds, like me, but you don’t know what to do to help. By donating today or creating a legacy gift, you are contributing to preserving the places and animals that you love”.

Christian adds, “Although I hope to leave behind a small footprint, it would be great to know that others will follow my path and help.”

To learn more about how you can contribute by becoming a Nature Maker, contact Cynthia McLaren-Lloyd at cynthia@nsnt.ca or find out how easy it is to make a future legacy gift through your RRSPs, RRIFs, or TFSAs by contacting Barbara Haley at barbara@nsnt.ca.