The Belwin Conservancy is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration and appreciation of our natural world. Belwin Conservancy currently owns more than 1,300 acres in Afton and West Lakeland Township, Minnesota comprising one of the largest privately owned nature preserves in the area.

Our focus is connecting people and the land. More than 10,000 students per year for the past 39 years have been coming to the Belwin Conservancy to experience its beauty and tranquility. For many this is their inauguration into the natural world and it’s an experience they never seem to forget. More than 70,000 visits are made annually to our Lucy Winton Bell Athletic Fields, one of the premier youth-only sports facilities in the region.

Our restoration of the native prairie and woodlands serves as a model for ecological restoration in the St. Croix Valley. Belwin Conservancy’s prairies are some of the oldest restored prairies in the area. Our recent reintroduction of bison to our land offers a unique opportunity for visitors to see a living example of prehistoric Minnesota that also serves as a model for modern land use that is economically sustainable. Our efforts have allowed six animal species and three plant species considered rare by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to thrive on Belwin Conservancy land.

Belwin Conservancy’s land lies just twenty minutes from St. Paul, but it’s proximity to the city is in contrast to the serenity one can find in hiking our trails, watching the bison roam through the tall grass, or just listening to the wind in the trees.

Our work is made possible by the generosity of our members. We invite you to become a member of the Belwin Conservancy, to come and be inspired by the natural wonders of this special place.

Belwin maintains an aggressive restoration strategy for its property. Prior to European settlement, more than 18 million acres of prairie covered Minnesota. Today, less than 1% of Minnesota’s native prairie remains. The near elimination of native prairie has inspired Belwin to protect and restore its parcels. Belwin incorporates sound land management initiatives, sustainable economic growth and ecosystem protection.

Belwin promotes sustainable ecosystems through an integration of environmental, health, economic and quality of life goals. Working with a range of partners, Belwin safeguards the natural environment – air, water, and the land. Belwin nurtures relationships with surrounding communities, school districts, academic institutions, public interest groups, private landowners and concerned citizens, to instill effective solutions for environmental problems.

As a result of this outreach, Belwin provides leadership to several arrangements:

• Working collaboratively with Minnesota Land Trust, Belwin uses conservation easements to protect the important natural and scenic characteristics of its landscape
• Working collaboratively with Saint Paul Public Schools and Stillwater School District, Belwin provides an outdoor educational center for 10,000 students a year.
• Working collaboratively with community sports organizations and in cooperation with the Saint Croix Valley Athletic Association and the Saint Croix Soccer Club, Belwin operates the Lucy Winton Bell Athletic Fields. This premier facility has eight soccer, four baseball and 3 football fields and hosts over 70,000 visitors a year.
• Belwin provides research opportunities for scientists, students and faculty.
• Belwin has placed conservation easements on its property to ensure that it will remain a natural area. The Minnesota Land Trust holds these easements which prohibit subdivision, residential, commercial and industrial development.