By Andy Robinson, Nature Trust Volunteer Storyteller

Back in the 1950’s, Larry Cochrane’s father traded a used car for a lakefront cottage where the Mersey River exits Ponhook Lake. This was one of the first cottages on the lake, and it was the place of childhood memories for Larry.

“We lived in Liverpool, so not too far out. Every summer, right after school we would head up to the cottage,” Larry recalls. “I have wonderful memories of the lake and the wilderness that existed back then. I think that’s where my environmentalism was founded – paddling up that lake, exploring the woods and wetlands. And because I’ve been going to that property for my whole life, I’ve seen how the cottage development has really changed the lake. I’m a keen fisherman, and I can see for myself the degradation of the salmon stocks, for example.”

This first-hand experience of the human impact on the lake led Larry to want to do something to protect what wilderness areas remained. So when an undeveloped parcel came up for sale, Larry decided to act.

“This property was originally owned by a friend of the family. Ken Corbett was from South Carolina, and when he went back to the States to live, he sold his land. The cottage went to family and a parcel of about 18 acres, all wrapped around a wetland, was sold separately. This is the piece I bought.”

“I sat on it for a number of years. I wasn’t sure what to do with it, but I knew I wanted it to remain undeveloped forever. Finally, I started looking at options to donate the land. It has lake frontage so it is still desirable property, and you never know whether people in the future will respect your wishes.”

Larry approached the Nature Trust, but at that time there was little interest as the land didn’t appear to have strong ecological value. Larry briefly explored other options, but then a business venture took him to Ontario for a few years, and the future of the land took a back seat.

About four years ago, Larry sold his business and brought his wife Katarina and children Sammy and Francie back to Liverpool. Many years before, he had been able to purchase the old farm next door to the childhood home where his mother still lives.

“The purchase took a while, because the farm had been left to a whole gang of relatives spread across the world. It took some time to get everyone to agree to the price. Eventually, though, it was mine,” he recalled.

“I was quite torn when we were talking about coming back to Nova Scotia,” Larry admitted. “We were at the centre of everything in Ontario, and here we were talking about coming to live in a town of 3500 people, but it was the land that did it. I have such wonderful memories of that land growing up, so when we came home, I knew that’s where our new house would be.”

Now back in Nova Scotia, Larry’s thoughts went back to that wetland. He decided to approach the Nature Trust again. He spoke with Ross Firth, Director of Conservation, and a site survey was arranged.

“They found some rare plants and reptiles in there, so they were keen to accept my donation,” Larry said.

Larry still regularly paddles up to the property from his cottage. He likes to spend as much time on the water as possible. He is instilling the same environmental awareness in his kids too, having just returned from a backcountry paddling and camping trip with Sammy and a couple of other father-son pairs.

“I’ve even taken the environment onboard as a business,” Larry explained. “When we came home I was thinking about retirement, but I’m an older dad, so I wanted to keep busy for the kids, so we started Renew Solar a couple of years ago. It lets us play a small part in improving this world for future generations to enjoy.”