Nature Journaling Course

This event was supported in part by the Cummington Cultural Council, the Plainfield Cultural Council, and the Ashfield Cultural Council, which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.  What is the purpose of a nature journal? Spending time absorbed in the sights, sounds, and smells of the outside world can spark joy…

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The Franklin Land Trust Receives Gift Of 151 Acres in Ashfield

    The Franklin Land Trust is delighted to announce that it has received a generous gift on the part of the Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Inc., of 151 acres on Spruce Corner Road in Ashfield. In 2001, the Franklin Land Trust led a grassroots effort to prevent this quiet piece of land, owned for generations…

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Franklin Land Trust Welcomes New Executive Director

As the Franklin Land Trust (FLT) celebrates its 35th anniversary, we are welcoming a new Executive Director. On November 15th, the Franklin Land Trust’s Board of Directors unanimously voted in favor of appointing Mary Lynn Sabourin to the role of Executive Director. Sabourin had occupied the position of Interim Executive Director for six months, after…

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35th Anniversary Celebration and Hike – December 3, 2022

Join us for a 35th Anniversary celebration and hike on one of our earliest conservation projects. This privately held land, which has never been open to the public, features stunning wildlife habitats, wetlands, and a working sugarbush. Join landowner and FLT Board President Barbara Miller and FLT’s Head Land Steward, Will Sloan Anderson, for a…

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Something Fishy Is Going On Here

In 2021, Bill and Jane Obear put a Conservation Restriction (CR) on 41 acres of Bear Path Farm, their land in Whately, MA. This autumn, it’s easy to appreciate the green fields of their farm, the tall trees turning gold, and the delicious peaches and apples from their orchard. But hiding in the winding streams…

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Join us for an early morning bird walk! – August 4, 2022

On August 4th from 7:30 to 9:30 am birdwatcher Timothy Goodwin will be leading a morning bird walk at Guyette Farm in Plainfield! Escape the heat beneath the shade of Guyette’s cool hemlock-white pine forest, and explore Meadow Brook and its wetlands. Guyette is home to songbirds like the chestnut-sided warbler and white-throated sparrow that…

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Potential Ashfield housing development threatens local charm

Aerial view of Edge Hill in Ashfield

Ashfield Massachusetts is home to a vibrant, warmhearted community that has made the village a cradle of creativity. Visitors admire Ashfield for its authenticity, classic New England architecture, and natural beauty. Anyone who lives there or visits often is familiar with Edge Hill Golf Course, once a working dairy farm and now a picturesque golfing…

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