Conservation Areas
At the Kestrel Trust we focus our conservation efforts on the "nine town" region, a portion of the Pioneer Valley loosely bounded by the Connecticut River, Quabbin Reservoir, Mount Toby and the Mount Holyoke Range. Since 1970, Kestrel has been a key partner in preserving the overwhelming majority of the conservation land in this important agricultural and watershed area. A list of some of our principal conservation projects may be found below.
As the following map demonstrates, however, we still have quite a bit of work to do. Areas in green are permanently protected farmland, forestland, or parkland, and areas in blue are under a Chapter 61, Chapter 61a or Chapter 61b tax classification, and are at reduced risk for development, but are not permanently protected. The areas at greatest risk are in white.
As the following map demonstrates, however, we still have quite a bit of work to do. Areas in green are permanently protected farmland, forestland, or parkland, and areas in blue are under a Chapter 61, Chapter 61a or Chapter 61b tax classification, and are at reduced risk for development, but are not permanently protected. The areas at greatest risk are in white.
Maps courtesy of the Amherst Public GIS Conservation Area Viewer.
Larch Hill—A twenty acre conservation area including the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, garden, and trails. (1975)
Amethyst Brook Conservation Area—Nearly forty acres with walking trails and varied wildlife habitat along Amethyst Brook at the base of the Pelham Hills. (1981)
Mount Pollux—A twenty-one acre park on a hilltop surrounded by apple orchards with wide views of South Amherst and the Holyoke Range. (1988)
Northeast Street Farms—Two hundred and fifty acres protected for farming in perpetuity by agricultural preservation restrictions. (1992-2004)
Lawrence Swamp—More than one hundred acres of conserved wetlands in South Amherst, an important source of Amherst’s water supply. (1985-1993)
North Amherst Community Farm—The Kestrel Trust acted as fiscal agent and advisor to protect 38-acres on Pine Street for a new community supported agriculture operation.
Other important Amherst projects include:
| Applewood | Brickyard | Puffers Pond |
| Eastman Brook | Harkness Brook | Hart Farm |
| Haskins Meadow | Holyoke Range | Hop Brook |
| Plum Springs | Westover Meadow | Simmons Farm |
| Slobody Farm | Upper Fort River |
Belchertown
Knight’s Pond—A conservation area of nearly one hundred acres bordering the pond at the headwaters of Jabish Brook near the Pelham boundary. (2005)
M&M Trailhead—A ten acre parcel at the intersection of Warren Wright and Bay Roads protecting a section of the M&M Trail between the Holyoke Range and the Pelham Hills. (2005)
Granby
Red Fire Farm—Protected for farming with an agricultural preservation restriction, this sixty-two acre property is a CSA farm that grows award-winning tomatoes.
Hadley
Mount Warner—Two hundred and twenty acres preserved on the central Valley’s prominent wooded landmark in North Hadley. (1986)
Great Meadow—An ongoing project to secure Hadley’s most historic agricultural field enclosed in a bend of the Connecticut River. So far ten farmland parcels have been protected. This rare field preserves the striped parcel pattern characteristic of 17th century New England. (2003-present)
Leverett
Rattlesnake Gutter— Forty acres protected along a scenic rocky gorge surrounded by woodland. (1989)
Roaring Brook—Fifty acres of woodland protected along the brook near Shutesbury Road in East Leverett. (1998-2000)
Pelham
Butter Hill Wildlife Sanctuary—A wooded conservation area of one hundred and fifty acres on a west-facing slope of the south Pelham hills. (1993)
Harkness Conservation Area— A preserve of one hundred and fifty acres of woodland east of Harkness Road. (1997)
Shutesbury
Banfield Farm—A conservation restriction protects the agricultural, scenic, and wildlife values of this three hundred acre historic farm through which passes a portion of the M&M trail. Parts of the protected farm extend into Pelham and Amherst. (1989)
South Hadley
Holyoke Range—A thirty-six acre preserve on the south slope of the Holyoke Range. (1999)
Sunderland
Mt. Toby—A forty-six acre conservation area with views and trails on the northwest slope of the mountain. (1990)