What is the New Hartford Land Trust all about?
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Our History
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The New Hartford Land Trust is an all-
volunteer, private non-profit membership
organization dedicated to promoting the
permanent preservation and protection of
farmland, forest, and other open space
and natural resources in New Hartford.
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In the mid 1800's, many "village
improvement societies" formed in New
England to "improve the quality of life and of
the environment." These small nonprofit
organizations were the forerunners of
today's land trust movement. A few years
later, in 1891, the Massachusetts legislature
incorporated The Trustees of Reservations
to protect the “jewels of the living
landscape”. The Society for the Protection of
New Hampshire Forests, with similar
purposes, was formed in 1901. Today, both
organizations are among the nation's
leading state conservation groups.
Not all the pioneers were in the northeast. At
the turn of the century, a group of
Californians organized the Sempervirens
Club with the slogan "Save the Redwoods".
Connecticut currently boasts 114 individual
land trusts surpassed in the nation only by
Massachusetts at 116. The New Hartford
Land Trust, a private, non-profit, tax-exempt
organization formed in 1973, is currently
preserving 250+ acres of open space and
natural resources in New Hartford for the
benefit of the public.
The Land Trust provides a means by which
woodlands, meadows, farmlands, water
resources and unique natural sites can be
preserved forever.
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In addition, the Land Trust's activities
extend into other environmental
areas:
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- Safeguarding interesting geological
features and areas of ecological value
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- Preserving unique scenic, natural and
historic sites
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- Promoting scientific study
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- Educating the public about its local
natural resources
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Our role in protecting New Hartford's
land
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The Land Trust is incorporated, directed
and managed by private residents of the
community. It is outside the realm of town
government. Therefore, it is free to act on
behalf of the specific land owner unlike
town agencies, which must serve all
taxpayers.
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