Responding to a Changing Forest
Each year we see the impact of climate change in our region: intense heat and cold; extreme rain and wind events; and shorter winters with less snow cover. These changes have an impact on the plants and animals on the land. As our climate shifts, our forested land will shift with it. Increased pests, invasive plants and tolerance for drought or heat are predicted to change our forested landscape. As forest landowners and managers, FLT and MWI are actively working to arm... Read More
Franklin Land Trust Welcomes New Executive Director
The Franklin Land Trust’s (FLT) Board of Directors and staff welcome their new Executive Director, Thomas S. Curren, to the organization. Tom succeeds Richard Hubbard, who has served as FLT’s executive director since 2004, and during whose tenure the Trust reached the 32,000-acre mark in conserving farms, forests, wildlands, and other natural resources in western Massachusetts. Tom brings more than forty years of non-profit management and leadership experience in support of the mission at FLT. He served as vice president of marketing and development at the Crotched Mountain Foundation, executive director... Read More
Leaving a Legacy
On a sunny Saturday afternoon with the stunning backdrop of Apex Orchards, hundreds of our land trust friends and partners celebrated the land conservation legacy of our recently retired Executive Director, Rich Hubbard. Along with speeches by Board President, Paul Cooper; Former State Representative Stephen Kulik; Cris Coffin from American Farmland Trust; and Pioneer Gardens' Jaap Molenaar - Rich was presented with a State Citation for his efforts of "Conserving Land across the Commonwealth" by Representative Natalie Blais as well as a Governor's Award for his legacy of conservation work presented by Cris Chisholm of MassWildlife. The FLT Board presented Rich... Read More
Help us Rebuild the Barn!
We’re re-building the ell of the Guyette barn and we need your help! Although the main Guyette barn found a new home elsewhere on our New England landscape, the original Guyette ell was dismantled and stored for us in hope of a future raising. Now’s the time to make the dream of raising the barn a reality but we need your help to rebuild it on its original site and with all of its former glory! The frame is in great shape, and the current Wildlife Habitat Improvement project happening on... Read More
Guyette Farm Forestry: Managing for wildlife and local wood
Overview and Project Partners Franklin Land Trust will be engaged in logging operations at its Guyette Farm Conservation Area on Gloyd St and South Central Street in Plainfield. This work is funded by a Wildlife Habitat Grant from the Department of Fish and Game and will create 17.5 acres of young forest habitat that will benefit ruffed grouse, woodcock, and a host of other wildlife species. This work is guided by FLT’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) partners: The Ruffed Grouse Society, the American Woodcock Society and the Wildlife Management ... Read More
Dean Farm Conserved
Greenfield Recorder - Richie Davis SHELBURNE – Before his death nearly a year ago, longtime Franklin Land Trust contributor and board president Charles Cohn purchased 21 acres of the former Dean farm on Little Mohawk Road in Shelburne’s Patten District. Cohn, a former Wall Street broker who moved to Shelburne in 1978 to become a financial adviser and who was dedicated to protecting farmland and other natural resources of the region, bought the 72-acre farm in 2016 to keep it from being subdivided... Read More
Land for Sale, Cummington
Privacy prevails on this 6.28 Acre lot that will allow you to decompress from work or to simply breathe the fresh air just west of Berkshire County. Proceeds from the sale of this property will provide funds to FLT to help further its land conservation work.Pittsfield is 20 minutes and Northampton is 35 minutes with Creamery Co-op just minutes up the road. Hiking, Kayaking, Fishing, Skiing as well as many cultural opportunities await including Greenwood Music Camp, William Cullen Bryant Homestead and much more. Seller will perc with an accepted offer. $19,900 Pictures and additional details: http://www.molyneuxrealty.com/ipages/8827/our-listings Read More
Franklin Land Trust accepts 124 acres in Shelburne
Greenfield Recorder - Richie Davis SHELBURNE — When it comes to “scenic byways,” the Mohawk Trail through Shelburne readily comes to mind, and now a conservation restriction has been placed on a 124-acre property directly along the highway to preserve it as woodland and pastureland. Franklin Land Trust helped the Town of Shelburne accept a conservation restriction on property of John A. and Margaret G. Payne, the land trust using $400,000 in state Scenic Byways funding just before the Nov. 16 death of... Read More