Greater Worcester Land Trust
Encyclopedia
Founded in Worcester, Massachusetts
in 1987, the Greater Worcester Land Trust is a non-profit
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
the trust's properties are managed simultaneously for wildlife habitat and passive recreation (hiking trail
s, walking, cross-country skiing
, snow-shoeing, birdwatching
, 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 474 acres (1.9 km²) of land and monitors 695 acres (2.8 km²) of Conservation Restrictions (called Conservation Easements
outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts) in Worcester, Leicester
, Paxton
, Holden
, and Grafton
. The Trust has also been responsible for the preservation and transfer to state ownership of 306 acres (1.2 km²) of conservation land.
The Trust's headquarters are on the fourth floor at 101 Water Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01604.
Area partners and sister trusts:
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
in 1987, the Greater Worcester Land Trust is a non-profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
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 trust
There are two distinct definitions of a land trust:* a private, nonprofit organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or conservation easement acquisition, or by its stewardship of such land or easements; or* an agreement...
the trust's properties are managed simultaneously for wildlife habitat and passive recreation (hiking trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s, walking, cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
, snow-shoeing, birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
, 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 474 acres (1.9 km²) of land and monitors 695 acres (2.8 km²) of Conservation Restrictions (called Conservation Easements
Conservation easement
In the United States, a conservation easement is an encumbrance — sometimes including a transfer of usage rights — which creates a legally enforceable land preservation agreement between a landowner and a government agency or a qualified land...
outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts) in Worcester, Leicester
Leicester, Massachusetts
Leicester is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,970 at the 2010 census.-History:Leicester was first settled in 1713 and was officially incorporated in 1714....
, Paxton
Paxton, Massachusetts
Paxton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,806 at the 2010 census.-History:Paxton was first settled in 1749 and was officially incorporated in 1765....
, Holden
Holden, Massachusetts
Holden is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The town was founded in 1741, and the Town Square was donated by John Hancock, former Governor of Massachusetts.The population was 17,346 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, and Grafton
Grafton, Massachusetts
Grafton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,765 at the 2010 census. Grafton is the home of a Nipmuc village known as Hassanamisco Reservation, the Willard House and Clock Museum, and the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine...
. The Trust has also been responsible for the preservation and transfer to state ownership of 306 acres (1.2 km²) of conservation land.
The Trust's headquarters are on the fourth floor at 101 Water Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01604.
Area partners and sister trusts:
- Charlton Heritage Preservation Trust
- Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust
- Dudley Conservation Land Trust
- East Quabbin Land Trust
- Grafton Land Trust
- Metacomet Land Trust
- Opacum Land Trust
- Paxton Land Trust
- Princeton Land Trust
- Rutland Land Conservancy
- Sterling Land Trust
- Sudbury Valley Trustees
- West Boylston Land Trust
- White Oak Land Conservation Society