Dedicated to protecting the land essential to Sheffield’s natural, scenic, agricultural and rural character
The Sheffield Land Trust
Since 1989 over 5,000 acres protected, including 18 farms
P.O. Box 940, 75 Main St., Sheffield, MA 01257-0940
413 229-0234; shefland@bcn.net

HISTORY & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1989 Incorporated under leadership of president Francis Lane.

1991 Assisted The Nature Conservancy in raising $695,000 to buy the heart of their Schenob Brook Preserve.

1992-9 Completed 11 conservation restrictions totaling 388 acres in the Schenob Brook Drainage Basin, along the Housatonic River, on June Mountain and in other strategic locations. Organized several community clean-ups of the Housatonic River.

1994 Spearheaded, with MA Audubon, purchase of Trieber-LeGeyt Agricultural Preservation Restriction (305 acres) in conjunction with a coalition of conservation organizations including The Nature Conservancy and Sweet Water Trust.

1994 Donation of Rob's Landing (30 acres), subsequently used as a canoe launch.

1996 Donation by Carol Tatkon of new office on LeGeyt Road. Land and house to be held by TNC, to mutually benefit both organizations, who would share decision-making responsibilities. A CR is to run to SLT.

1997 Donation of Schlesinger property (120 acres) on Route 41 adjacent to 271-acres SLT & TNC Conservancy helped the MA Div. of Fisheries and Wildlife acquire in 1998.

1998 Purchased Robins property (143 acres) on June Mt. as part of ongoing effort to protect this five-mile ridge.

1999 Closed on Corn Crib Agricultural Preservation Restriction (25 acres).

1999 Secured $80,000 for the Town to use toward a Master Plan.

2000 Began environmental education program with Southern Berkshire Regional School District.

2001 Closed on Kelly APR (310 acres) in conjunction with The Trustees of Reservations.

2002 Began Agricultural Internship and Education Program with Southern Berkshire Regional School District.

2003 Closed on Cavalier APR (96 acres), first phase of Howden APR (12 acres) and Balsam Hill Farm APR (153 acres). (Still raising local contribution portion of Balsam Hill Farm APR.)

2004 Closed on the Cook CR (50 acres) and Stookey CR (43 acres) and received donation of the Dohoney property (20 acres) toward creation of the Community Recreational & Educational Trail Network.

2005 Closed on the Sheffield Land Group CR (53 acres) and purchased the Cosgriff property (21 acres) addition to the Community Recreation and Education Trail Network.

2006 Closed on Larkin APR (350 acres) and Griffiths Cold Spring Farm APR (54 acres).

2007 Closed on Egerton APR (67 acres) and purchased Rote parcels as first phase of Sheffield-Egremont Agricultural, Ecological and Scenic Corridor (fund raising in progress for both projects).

2008 Closed on 112-acre Bow Wow Road Farm & Nature Preserve APR and 247-acre Howden Farm APR on Rannapo Road.

2009 Protected 186 acres of working farmland, riparian buffers, wetlands and wildlife habitat with Quarry Hill Farm APR and sale of the Lime Kiln Wildlife Connector to MA Dept of Fish & Wildlife.

2010 Purchased and transferred to Division of Fisheries & Wildlife 86 acre Lone Pine Tree forested property on Guilder Hollow Road

2011 Protected 120-acre Maple Shade Farm along Sheffield-Egremont & Lime Kiln Roads, and completed APR on 12-acre Curtiss Route 41 farm fields.

2012 Completed APR on 300-acre River Lea Farm on Boardman St.

2013 Protected 400-acre Bow Wow Farm on Bow Wow & Lime Kiln Roads and accepted donation of 96-acre Hunting property on Silver St.

2014 Protected 125-acre Lassoe Farm on Barnum Street

2015 Purchased 24-acre Schneck property to establish walking paths and a recreational opportunity within walking distance of the Village of Ashley Falls.

2016 Community Advisory Group makes Schneck trail improvements and renames the property Ashley Falls Woods.

2017 Ashley Falls Woods volunteers install trail signage, remove invasive plants, reclaim former meadows and clear new parking area.

2018
Ashley Falls Woods community volunteers conduct cleanup, install parking area and remove invasive plants. Secured an option to purchase an agricultural preservation restriction on the 270-acre Batacchi farm.


2019
Ashley Falls Woods kiosk with maps installed. Property sale and conservation restriciton completed for Hunting property.

2020
Sale of the 400-acre Bow Wow Farm to a farm family is completed.

2021 The first part of the 270-acre Batacchi agricultural preservation restriction is completed.

The 14-acre McDonald conservation restriction is completed.

2022 A collaborative between Sheffield Land Trust, Egremont Land Trust and Greenagers purchases the 54-acre Bow Wow Woods along Route 41 for a public trail and outdoor education programs. The second part of the 270-acre Batacchi agricultural preservation restriction is completed.