Vermont Land Trust - Sugarmaker Protects More Forestland in Brookfield

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 5, 2009

For more information, please contact
Mark McEathron, Central Vermont Director of the Vermont Land Trust, at (802) 262-1211; or
Elise Annes, V.P. of Community Relations, at (802) 262-1206.

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Sugarmaker Protects More Forestland in Brookfield

BROOKFIELD -- One good turn deserves another, at least when it comes to land conservation, according to Brookfield landowner Bill Council. Following the success of his 2005 conservation of 55 acres, last week Bill conserved another 49 acres by donating a conservation easement on the land to the Vermont Land Trust.

“No one is making more land, but we’re sure making more people” commented Bill. “I came to Vermont in 1987 and have witnessed so many changes to the landscape. During my time here I’ve really come to appreciate this land, and wanted to make sure that its basic character wouldn’t be changed in the future.”

The newly conserved land, located in southeast Brookfield, has frontage on both Chelsea Road and Woods Road. The forested is dominated by mature plantations of red pine, although one area of the property is entirely hardwoods and has been tapped for maple syrup production in the past.

“The red pine plantations are reaching the point that it’s about time to start harvesting some of them,” said Bill. “According to the soil maps I’ve seen, these red pines are planted on top of prime agricultural soils. I’ve had older folks in town tell me that they remember harvesting potatoes off the land where the pines now grow.”

The other impressive timber resource is the small sugarbush at the rear of the property that connects to the larger sugarbush on the land conserved in 2005. Bill gathers sap from his 900-tap operation using a team of horses, Abby, Max, and Sam. His syrup is sold at various retail locations in the area.

Conservation easements are a land deed that prohibits or carefully limits future development while allowing for farming, forestry, and recreational uses to continue. The land remains in private ownership, can be purchased and sold just like other lands, and remains on the tax rolls, but the easement is permanently in place regardless of who owns the land in the future.

Under the terms of the Council conservation easement, no residential development will be allowed on the newly conserved land; the 2005 conservation effort also prohibited any future development.

This is the fourth property in Brookfield that the Vermont Land Trust has helped to conserve. In addition to Bill’s land, the land trust holds conservation easements on the 55-acre Camp Merrishko Farm along Route 14, and the 75-acre Eccles property near West Brookfield village.

“We’re thrilled with Bill’s latest conservation” said Mark McEathron of the Vermont Land Trust. “There may be other Brookfield landowners who have always wondered if land conservation is right for them, of if the Vermont Land Trust would even be interested in their land” added Mark. “I’d encourage those people to contact VLT to get their questions answered.”