Contacts:
Laurel Sparks, Southeast Region Office Manager 781.784.0567  ssloan@ttor.org	Kristi Perry 781.329.5205 tkperry@comcast.net

The Trustees of Reservations Increase Commitment to Conserving Land in Southeastern, MA with Opening of Three New Properties in Sharon, Canton, and Millis

Picnics, Ice Cream, and Family Outdoor Activities Planned for All Ages

Sharon, MA – August 23, 2007 – As an important first step in its new 10-year strategic plan to engage more communities in the care and conservation of open space, The Trustees of Reservations announced today plans to open three new properties in its Southeastern region:  Moose Hill Farm in Sharon, Signal Hill in Canton, and Baker Reservation (Cedariver) in Millis.  All three properties, now held by The Trustees as conservation land, will be open to the public every day of the year, offering hundreds of acres, miles of walking trails, scenic views and, in the case of Signal Hill and Baker Reservations (Cedariver), river access for canoeing and kayaking.

 “With over one-third of the state’s population located in the Southeastern and Metro Boston Regions of Massachusetts, and open land shrinking at an alarming rate of more than 40 acres a day, our mission is to lead and inspire more people who care to help protect special places in their communities” says Trustees Southeast Regional Director, Steve Sloan.  “We hope many people will join us this fall at these three beautiful properties where they can see for themselves the value of protecting special places while enjoying the outdoors with friends and family.”

Moose Hill Farm Opening in Sharon
Opening on the weekend of September 8-9, the 350-acre Moose Hill Farm was formerly owned by the Kendall family and given to The Trustees in 2004 to care for and preserve forever.  The Farm features a rich diversity of landscape with over 1.5 miles of walking trails, one of the largest groupings of open fields in the town of Sharon and many opportunities for wildlife watching.  Located right down the road from the Trustees-owned and beloved community spot, Francis William Bird Park in Walpole, Moose Hill Farm offers yet another easily accessible, local resource for enjoying the great outdoors.

Beginning at 10:00 AM on September 8th, visitors will be welcomed with a ribbon cutting and a few remarks from Trustees staff and local officials. Afterwards, guests will be invited to participate in guided walks around the property and a one hour “Rooms in Time” quest for those who are feeling adventurous.  At 12 Noon there will be a free cookout, featuring grass fed beef burgers from Trustees-owned Appleton Farms, hot dogs, fresh local greens and vegetables from the Trustees’ newly opened Powisset Farm Community Supported Agriculture program in Dover and delicious, local ice cream.  Please feel free to bring your own side dishes. 

For those who can’t make Saturday’s festivities or want to come back, Moose Hill Farm will be open on Sunday, September 9th from 2:00-4:00 PM, featuring more free ice cream and guided walks every half hour.  While dogs are not invited this time, dog owners will be invited to sign up for The Trustees’ new Green Dogs Program that promotes safe, mindful dog walking practices at Moose Hill Farm.

Signal Hill Opening in Canton
Located near the lovely Trustees-owned Eleanor Bradley Estate in Canton, Signal Hill was gifted to The Trustees by George Bates in 2005.  The property, now open to the public, will offer the community and outdoor enthusiasts 150 acres of walking trails, open meadows, a beautiful 200 foot vantage point of the Boston Skyline and Moose Hill, and much sought after access to the Neponset River.  Starting at 10:00 AM on October 13th, guests will be invited to explore the property and use one of many available kayaks to take a peaceful paddle down the river.

Baker Reservation (Cedariver) Opening in Millis
Featuring 54 acres of beautiful open space along the Charles River, Baker Reservation (Cedariver), formerly owned by three generations of the Baker family, offers the opportunity for Millis community members and others to come together and enjoy walking trails and access to the Charles River.  The river links this new property to additional Trustees’ properties protected just downstream.  The Trustees plan to offer paddling programs at Baker Reservation (Cedariver) in the future. Starting at 2PM on October 13th, guests will be invited to walk along the woodland and field trails and use one of the available canoes for a river paddle.

About the Trustees’ Mission & Strategic Plan
Since its founding in 1891 by Charles Eliot, an open space visionary and protégé of the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, The Trustees’ mission has been to preserve, protect and care for properties of exceptional scenic, historic and ecological value in Massachusetts.  While our mission remains the same, the way the organization plans to accomplish it has changed as the world has changed.

As land is being developed and open space is being fragmented at a rapid pace around the state, The Trustees are working to mobilize and inspire a critical mass of people and partners who care about quality of life in their communities and will work to protect them.  The Trustees are undertaking an ambitious education and outreach effort to help more people understand how everyone can be “a Trustee” of the planet and make a lasting impact.

“By 2017, we hope to double our members and volunteers to help make this vision a reality,” says Andrew Kendall, President of The Trustees.  “Imagine what a difference it would make if every town was able to protect a special park, farm or plot of land from being developed or save a historic homestead or building.  Through our work and membership outreach, we hope to open even more people’s eyes to what they can do, starting in their own communities.”

About The Trustees of Reservations
The Trustees are 100,000 people like you, from every corner of Massachusetts, who share a deep set of similar values:  a love of the land, of the outdoors and of the distinctive charms of New England, as well as a shared vision of celebrating and protecting them for everyone, forever.

With 99 reservations, comprising nearly 25,000 acres—all of which are open to the public—The Trustees of Reservations’ properties are tremendously diverse and include: mountains and hilltops; forests and woodlands; river valleys and waterfalls; islands, 70 miles of coastline, barrier beaches; marshes, bogs, swamps; open fields and meadows; farms, historic homesteads and now recently, through our permanent affiliation with Boston Natural Areas Network, community gardens and urban wilds throughout the city of Boston.