| History: |
Conservation easement donated by Dr. Margaret “Peg”
Rathbun-Ames in 2000. When the Ames acquired the land, it
was relatively open; cattle had been allowed to graze in the
fields and woods. Over three weekends, Dr. Rathbun-Ames and
her husband planted 1,200 evergreen seedlings, which have
now grown up into mature trees. Over the years they put in
a pond near the small stream that flows through the property,
developed trails in the woods, and maintained a series of
meadows through mowing. Ten acres of the property are leased
to a farmer who farms the adjacent properties. The easement
encourages continued agricultural use in suitable areas, provides
for maintenance of the meadows and trails, and protects the
small wetlands, woodlands, and stream corridor that create
a diversity of habitats.
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