Did You Know That We Protected 57 Acres in 2025?

In 2025, DNRT permanently protected over 57 acres of habitat and farmland, one of the highest acreage tallies in the last five years. One of the final jewels in the crown was the November acquisition of a 10-acre parcel of rare species habitat adjacent to Parsons Reserve in Russells Mills.

This property, formerly owned by the Goldberg Trust, is sandwiched between the southwest side of Parsons Reserve and the permanently protected Tavares Farm to the west. Although relatively small, this lot features some excellent habitat. First, it borders the west side of the vernal pool at Parsons Reserve. Having permanent protection on all sides of this pool is vitally important. Those who have visited know how active this area is when the frogs, salamanders, and fairy shrimp begin their springtime reverie. The uninterrupted forest plot is full of towering American beech and other hardwoods with a lush carpet of ferns in places. There are also some interesting puddingstones and a craggy granite outcropping similar to the ones found at the Russells Mills Woods and Destruction Brook Woods Reserves.

The addition of this new parcel brings the size of our Parsons Reserve to 42 acres. We do not currently have plans for future trails at Parsons, and will leave this new parcel as an important habitat area for local wildlife. DNRT staff will seek to document the species using this habitat and integrate it into the management plan for Parsons Reserve.

The parcel was a great complement to the June acquisition of 34 acres in North Dartmouth, abutting our Ridge Hill Reserve, and a 13-acre conservation restriction on Jordan Road. We are proud to say that through strategic negotiations and activating funding reserves, we did all of this without a major fundraising campaign.