A New 403-acre Town Forest in Middlesex: 

Community Rallies to Create a Legacy of Statewide Significance
Conservation provides the opportunity for recreation, natural resource protection and forestry

This week the town of Middlesex received a new town forest and the State of Vermont benefited from the conservation of a critical property along a prominent ridgeline that provides important wildlife habitat and may eventually result in the creation of a hiking trail across the entire Worcester range, the Vermont Land Trust announced today.

The Vermont Land Trust, the Town of Middlesex and landowners Eleanor Ott and Cynthia Steed came together to protect a beautiful 403-acre property, located on the north side of the Notch Road that connects Middlesex and Waterbury along the southern end of the Worcester Range.

Eleanor and Cynthia purchased their property nearly 20 years ago when they were drawn to its unique character. Several years after they made the purchase the Middlesex Notch Wildlife Management Area was created across the road from their land. When the land became unaffordable for them to own, they approached the Vermont Land Trust to see if the land could be permanently protected.

"When Cynthia and I first walked this woods in Middlesex Notch, we knew we wanted to help preserve it beauty for the enjoyment of future generations,” said Eleanor Ott. “We're happy to have played a part in ensuring that these woods will remain woods forever."

The majority of the Worcester range ridgeline is conserved—from Elmore State Park, to the Atlas Timberlands, to the Putnam State Forest. However, south of the Putnam State Forest there is a small cluster of privately-owned parcels. “By far the largest private holding along the southern end of the range is this 403-acre parcel,” said Mark McEathron of the Vermont Land Trust. “With the conservation of this land, the possibility of an end-to-end trail across the range takes a step towards becoming a reality.”

Eleanor and Cynthia’s decision fits well with the Middlesex Conservation Commission’s plan. Five years ago, with the backing of the Selectboard, the commission proposed a Conservation Fund to help finance land conservation projects in town. With the support of residents at Town Meeting Day, and through individual donations, the fund was created and continued to build over the past four years.

“The reward for our efforts is the new Middlesex Town Forest,” said Dave Shepard a member of the Middlesex Conservation Commission and a member of the local fundraising committee. “When the fund was established, the commission didn’t necessarily anticipate that the first time it would be used would be for such a substantial project. With the Middlesex Town Forest, the fund has fulfilled the role we had hoped for by demonstrating local commitment to conservation and helping Middlesex to partner with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Vermont Land Trust to carry out a conservation project that would have been beyond the means of the town acting alone.”

“Conservation projects like the Middlesex Town Forest demonstrate what is possible when local citizens and public investment come together to make a difference in a community,” said Elise Annes, vice president for community relations at the Vermont Land Trust “With the grant from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the donations from more than 100 community members as well as the support of the Vermont Land Trust, the Vermont River Conservancy and the Friends of the Worcester Range it all came together.”

The Town of Middlesex will now own the protected land as a town forest, subject to a conservation easement co-held by the Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. The town will develop a management plan to balance the land’s many uses including timber management, wildlife habitat protection, educational uses, and a wide variety of recreational activities such as hiking and hunting.

Town Forests are wonderful resources for towns to own. They allow communities to manage land for their local needs under the permanent protection of a conservation easement. In the past couple years the Vermont Land Trust has protected three forest parcels as town forests in central Vermont. The communities of Marshfield, Berlin and Middlesex each now own a forever protected part of their rural character and have ensured that both their current and future residents will have the opportunity to recognize their local forestland as a special place.

Across the state, the Vermont Land Trust has worked with individuals, families and partner organizations to protect 350,000 acres of forestland and more than 660 farms.

“It is very gratifying to see that a small town with strong local support, a modest conservation fund can, and strong partnerships can secure a fantastic property,” reflected Dave Shepard. “This project has great significance for the town, the surrounding communities, and the residents of Vermont. We look forward to many years of Vermonters enjoying this special piece of our great state.”

For more information, please contact  Elise Annes, Vice President for Community Relations, Vermont Land Trust, (802) 262-1206