Fundraiser makes one final push to goal

ENGLEWOOD — The Environmental Conservancy of North Port and Surrounding Areas intends to raised $25,000 by Thursday for a wooded lot in the Englewood area.

As its deadline approaches, the conservancy is making one final push for donations.

The quarter-acre parcel is Lot 20 at Huntington Avenue in Englewood East. It's a few blocks south of the Myakka State Forest. It will be Englewood's first ever land acquisition for this nonprofit group.

Conserving the lot would help to protect a natural habitat for gopher tortoises and scrub jays among other native plants and trees, according to Barbara Lockhart, the group's president.

As of Saturday, the group has raised $17,100 toward its goal.

"With this acquisition we would permanently protect a quarter acre of natural habitat abundant with native plants and trees in a Charlotte County designated Florida scrub-jay zone," the news release said. "We located one inactive gopher tortoise burrow on the parcel; it could return."

Lockhart asks the community to make one final push in donations in order to reach the conservancy's goal.

"As development progresses, Englewood neighborhood natural habitat for the scrub-jays, gopher tortoises and other wildlife is being slowly erased," the news release said. "Our land acquisitions provide natural "stepping stone” habitat pockets in neighborhoods which is the best way to help ensure wildlife will always have a place to call home in Englewood."

The group has previously bought lots in North Port, Port Charlotte and Deep Creek.

To donate, visit the gofundme at gofund.me/5e321b2e, or PayPal at ecnorthport.com.