A mossy bald area in the 58-acre Three Brothers Preserve | Staff archive
Bells rang in the Preservation Trust’s offices on December 14, 2023, as we celebrated adding a 58-acre woodland haven on Orcas Island to our network of preserves. Nestled near the northern shore West Sound, the land was a donation from the estate of Frank S. Bayley III.
Surviving Bayley family members, together with SJPT staff, decided to name the donated property the Three Brothers Preserve, in honor of Frank and his brothers, Doug and Tom. The three Bayley brothers were the Preservation Trust’s first board members when the organization was founded in 1979.
The Three Brothers: Frank III, Doug, and Tom Bayley
We lamented the passing of both Frank and Doug in 2022. Their younger brother, Tom, served two stints on the Preservation Trust’s board. He was recognized as “Founder Emeritus” when he stepped off the board for the second time, in 2019. All three brothers formed a lifelong attachment to the islands from an early age, when they spent childhood summers “messing about in boats” around Skull Island and exploring the inland woods near the family’s home on West Sound’s Massacre Bay.
The Three Brothers Preserve is a rarity in the San Juan Islands, with its 58 undeveloped acres of high-quality mixed conifer and deciduous forest, wetlands, and remnant oak and mossy bald habitat. The preserve expands upon other SJPT-protected lands nearby: It’s adjacent to the 18-acre White Preserve, and a six-acre parcel that Frank Bayley previously donated during his lifetime is a few hundred yards away.
The Preservation Trust will manage the preserve for forest health, educational and research opportunities, and neighborhood walking access. Existing walking trails will be maintained, providing a space for monitoring access and enhancing forest health and wildlife habitat. While broader public access may not be available due to logistical constraints (such as lack of parking access), the preserve’s presence contributes to the rural character and wildlife habitat of Orcas Island along the Deer Harbor Road corridor.
Frank Bayley III’s commitment to island conservation is not confined to his donations of land alone; he also left a substantial monetary bequest to the Preservation Trust. His generous contributions stand as a poignant testament to his love for the San Juan Islands and desire to see their beauty protected for future generations. While we can no longer express our gratitude directly to Frank, his legacy lives on in the rustling leaves and thriving wildlife of the Three Brothers Preserve.