A Japanese tour group is making a special donation to the Lucy Maud Montgomery Land Trust during their visit to Prince Edward Island this month. The group will be making presentations at the Anne of Green Gables Museum as well as at the new Avonlea Village as a pledge of their support to the Trust which has as its goal to preserve the Island landscape described so lovingly by world-renowned author L.M. Montgomery.
The Land Trust has been slowly gathering support and raising funds since 1994 and offers compensation to those landowners in the central North Shore region of the Island willing to forego development that would detract from the scenic beauty that is the trademark of Prince Edward Island.
"Preserving the natural splendour of this area is a very admirable endeavour," noted Fisheries and Tourism Minister, Kevin J. MacAdam. "It is heartwarming to see such a high level of interest and support from the group and I hope they have many opportunities to visit their investment."
The tour group was organized by Miss Aoi Nozawa, a frequent visitor to PEI, and supported by the ABC Travel group. The first ever tour has attracted 16 participants, but the organizers expect that next year's tour may bring as many as 100 Japanese visitors to Prince Edward Island to appreciate the Island landscape as well as, of course, the many Montgomery and "Anne" sites. The itinerary for this tour will include a workshop on dollmaking, a lobster lunch, a visit to the Farmers Market and Anne of Green Gables, The Musical™.