Founded in
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester ( , ) is a city and county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, the city's population was 206,518 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the second-List of cities i ...
in 1987, the Greater Worcester Land Trust is a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
land conservation organization dedicated to the protection of important lands in Worcester and the surrounding towns (the two concentric rings around the City of Worcester). As a conservation
land trust
Land trusts are nonprofit organizations which own and manage land, and sometimes waters. There are three common types of land trust, distinguished from one another by the ways in which they are legally structured and by the purposes for which th ...
the trust's properties are managed simultaneously for wildlife habitat and passive recreation (hiking
trail
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. Th ...
s, walking,
cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreation ...
, snow-shoeing,
birdwatching
Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device like binoculars or a telescope, b ...
, etc.)
GWLT is primarily a volunteer based organization with a volunteer Board of Directors, Volunteer Conservation Ranger's who monitor the Trust's holdings, and GWLT Volunteers who blaze trails, install signs and waterbars, and redress illegal activities like dumping or erosion due to motorized vehicles.
The Trust manages of land and monitors of Conservation Restrictions (called
Conservation Easements
In the United States, a conservation easement (also called conservation covenant, conservation restriction or conservation servitude) is a power invested in a qualified private land conservation organization (often called a "land trust") or gove ...
outside the
) in Worcester,
Leicester
Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest settlement in the East Midlands.
The city l ...
,
Spencer,
Paxton,
Holden
Holden, formerly known as General Motors-Holden, was an Australian subsidiary company of General Motors. It was an Australian automobile manufacturer, importer, and exporter which sold cars under its own marque in Australia. In its last thre ...
,
Boylston Boylston may refer to the following communities:
;Canada
* Boylston, Nova Scotia
;United States
* Boylston, Massachusetts
* Boylston, New York
* Boylston, Wisconsin
* Boylston Junction, Wisconsin
It may also refer to:
* Helen Dore Boylston, author ...
,
West Boylston,
Auburn
Auburn may refer to:
Places Australia
* Auburn, New South Wales
* City of Auburn, the local government area
*Electoral district of Auburn
*Auburn, Queensland, a locality in the Western Downs Region
*Auburn, South Australia
*Auburn, Tasmania
*Aub ...
,
Grafton, and
Charlton. The Trust has also been responsible for the preservation and transfer to state ownership of of conservation land, and to the City of Worcester Reservoir division of .
In 2009 the Greater Worcester Land Trust and the West Boylston Land Trust merged their conservation holdings and membership.
In 2019 the Greater Worcester Land Trust and the Paxton Land Trust merged their conservation holdings and membership.
The Trust's headquarters are on the first floor of 4 Ash Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01608.
Area partners and sister trusts:
Charlton Heritage Preservation TrustClinton Greenway Conservation TrustDudley Conservation Land TrustEast Quabbin Land TrustGrafton Land TrustMetacomet Land TrustOpacum Land TrustPrinceton Land TrustRutland Land Conservancy* Sterling Land Trust
Sudbury Valley TrusteesWhite Oak Land Conservation Society
External links
Greater Worcester Land Trust Inc.
Land trusts in Massachusetts
Organizations based in Worcester, Massachusetts
Organizations established in 1987
1987 establishments in Massachusetts
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