Press Release

Date: 06/13/02

Conservation Partners Add 280 Acres to New England's Oldest State Forest

The Nature Conservancy Connecticut Chapter last week protected in two purchases in East Hampton and Marlborough a total of 280 acres adjacent to Meshomasic State Forest, New England's oldest state forest.

In both cases the Conservancy bought the forested properties from developers who had pursued plans to develop it.  The Conservancy intends to transfer the land to the state Department of Environmental Protection as an addition to Meshomasic State Forest.  It will be open to the public.

The state Department of Environmental Protection will provide funds for the transfers from its Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program, which in turn is funded by the state open space initiative launched four years ago by Gov. John Rowland and the Connecticut General Assembly.  The Conservancy regularly works in partnership with DEP, helping negotiate purchases and providing funds at closing to facilitate the agency's land conservation efforts.

"This adds to the mosaic of protected land in the Meshomasic region, one of the exemplary landscapes of Southern New England," said Meshomasic Conservation Program Manager Katherine Winslow.

 "Because the Conservancy has demonstrated their total commitment to the identification and preservation of unprotected lands in Meshomasic Forest, the Meshomasic Hiking Club is pleased to name them our primary 2002 recipient of a $2,000 donation for land acquisition," said Meshomasic Hiking Club President John LeShane.

The Conservancy purchased 217 acres in Marlborough from Jack Oliveri of Tyler Development Company of Glastonbury for $1.6 million.

"I was thrilled to be able to work with The Nature Conservancy," said Oliveri, who had sought approval for a 64-lot subdivision on the land in two phases.  "It's wonderful we could come to an agreement on the land.  If there ever was a piece of property that deserved not to be developed, this is the one."

"It's great to see this land protected," said Marlborough Town Planner Peter Hughes.
 "The parcel is also adjacent to a town-owned parcel to the east.  It is something that will be enjoyed by residents of Marlborough for generations to come."

The irregular-shaped, forested land is in northern Marlborough to the west of Finley Hill Road on the Glastonbury town line.  It is bounded to the north and west by Meshomasic State Forest, and is one of the largest remaining undeveloped parcels adjacent to the forest.  The land includes two tributaries of Flat Brook and is part of the watershed of the Salmon River.  The Shenipsit Trail, part of Connecticut's 700-mile blue blaze trail network, can be accessed from the northern part of the property.

The Conservancy purchased another 63 acres in East Hampton from C.T.W. Builders & Developers Inc. of Middletown.  The company already had permits for a 15-lot subdivision as well as a new cul-de-sac road on the land.

"I'm very pleased to see it protected," said Peter Bergan, owner of Peaceful Hill Tree Farm, which is adjacent to the property.  "I thought all was lost, and the area would be lost to the threat of more sprawl.  It's great to see it preserved with the natural beauty that it has.  We need the watershed recharge area in this town, since we don't have public water resources."

"Ensuring protection and providing for the expansion of our oldest state forest is a tremendous accomplishment for The Nature Conservancy, the DEP and the citizens of Connecticut," said Alan Hurst, chairman of the board of the Middlesex Land Trust.

This L-shaped property is in northwest East Hampton on the west side of Midwoodfarm Road, located roughly between Lake Pocotapaug and the Portland town line.  It is bounded to the north and west by Meshomasic State Forest.  The Peaceful Hill Tree Farm is just south of this parcel.  The land is entirely forested with some wetlands in the Pine Brook watershed.

One year ago, The Nature Conservancy identified the Meshomasic Forest Landscape as one of Connecticut's Last Great Places.  It is one of six forests of 15,000 or more contiguous acres in Connecticut and the only one in central Connecticut of this size and condition.  The Conservancy gave it high conservation priority after comparing its natural features to similar landscapes across an ecological region stretching from southern Maine to northern Virginia.

For more information on the Meshomasic Forest Landscape or to contribute to the fundraising effort for this project, please call Meshomasic Conservation Program Manager Katherine Winslow at 860/344-0716 ext. 316.

The Nature Conservancy is an international, private, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of plants, animals, and natural communities through the protection of the land and water they need to survive.  The Conservancy maintains the largest network of privately held nature sanctuaries in the world, and has protected more than 12 million acres in the U.S. and Canada.  Throughout the state, the Connecticut Chapter has protected more than 43,000 acres, maintains 57 local nature preserves, and currently has approximately 23,000 members.  Visit us on the web at nature.org/connecticut.

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