Wetlands Wildlife Reserve

An Amherst developer/builder, Larry Smith, found himself with two parcels that did not serve his business purposes. He chose to donate them to the Land Trust, to be preserved or disposed of as the Trust saw fit. This enabled the developer to take a tax deduction for the value of the land.

The Land Trust chose to preserve one piece, on Boston Post Road, as a wildlife reserve, to be monitored and studied by students at Souhegan High School. The Land Trust already has an established relationship with Souhegan High School in support of their conservation biology studies. This thriving wetland habitat will become a living lab for that program.

The second parcel was surrounded by existing homes. The Land Trust Board negotiated with abutters to the other parcel, who will purchase it under a conservation easement, providing funds to the Land Trust for future projects while enhancing the value of the purchaser's home.