800 acres in Barre to be protected from development

BARRE — Conservation groups have protected more than 800 acres of land in Barre known as the Hawes Hill Conservation Corridor through permanent conservation restrictions.

In a news release, conservation groups said the land will provide wildlife habitat, maintain access to clean drinking water, promote climate resilience, support local farms, and connect thousands of acres of adjacent land.

The holders of the conservation restrictions are the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Barre Conservation Commission and the East Quabbin Land Trust.

Private landowners will manage the land for forestry, agriculture and passive recreational activities.

“For five generations our family has been caretakers of the land,” Molly Stevens Dubois, whose family of farm owners protected four of the properties, said in a statement. “We value the importance of maintaining space as open fields and forests. Working with Mount Grace on this project has enabled us to ensure that the land is protected for the future generations of farmers.”

The Hawes Hill Conservation Corridor is located near Mass. Audubon’s Rutland Brook Wildlife Sanctuary.

The corridor is made up of eight separate properties totaling more than 800 acres. It will connect diverse habitats, streams and wetlands along with woods and fields.

“The farms and forests around the Quabbin are important in so many different ways,” Emma Ellsworth, Mount Grace executive director, said in a statement. “Amazing places like these urgently need to be protected before they are lost, so it was truly inspiring to see so many neighbors join together to make sure this land was conserved right now.”

Mass. Audubon used money from its $75 million 30x30 Catalyst Fund to complete the deal.

The state and conservation partners have set a goal of protecting 30% of Massachusetts’ land by 2030. These heavily forested acres were a conservation priority for the state.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 800 acres in Barre to be protected from development