Donate
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Join Our Mailing List
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Hilltown Land Trust

Dedicated to protecting the working lands, native habitats and rural beauty of the Hilltowns since 1986

  • About
    • Board & Committees
    • Staff and TerraCorps members
    • Affiliation with The Trustees
    • Announcements
    • Newsletters
    • Contact
    • Open Positions
  • Land Protection
    • Conservation Restrictions
    • Agricultural Preservation Restrictions
    • Financial Incentives
    • Donating or Selling Land
    • Estate Planning
    • Landowner & Town Resources
  • Properties
    • Trails & Maps
      • Big View Trail
      • Bradley
      • Breckenridge
      • Clary Hill
      • Conwell
      • Hilltown Boulders
      • Historic Dam Trail
      • Locke’s Loop Trail
      • Robert’s Meadow Brook Trail
      • Round Top Hill
      • Stevens
      • Two Mamas Farm Waterfall Trail
    • Land Stewardship
    • Conservation Stories
  • Get Involved
    • Events
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • Support
    • Legacy Giving
    • Gorge après Gorge
    • Vernal Pool Plunge
You are here: Home / Conservation Stories / Hilltown Land Trust Protects 125 acres in Chester!

Hilltown Land Trust Protects 125 acres in Chester!

December 17, 2015

FreedbergWe are very excited to share that HLT permanently protected 125 acres of important wildlife habitat and water resources in Chester! Landowners Sarah and William Freedberg of Northampton and Chester donated a Conservation Restriction on their land to Hilltown Land Trust.

The Freedbergs always wanted to conserve their scenic property which includes the top of Round Hill, the highest point in Hampden County, several cascading waterfalls along Griffin Brook and unique forest resources. Their land also boasts nearly 4,000 feet of road frontage that will now be permanently protected from development. The land is adjacent to Chester Blandford State Forest and thousands of other acres of conservation land, thus creating an enormous block of wildlife habitat.

According to Sally Loomis, Hilltown Land Trust Executive Director “The Freedbergs first approached HLT about donating a Conservation Restriction on their land in 2006, but HLT did not cover the town of Chester and we were not able to work with them. Fortunately, the Freedbergs were patient, and when they reconnected with HLT in 2014, we had increased our land conservation capacity and expanded our service area to include Chester.” Loomis adds “this is a beautiful property that enlarges an important block of wildlife habitat and protects a mile-long section of Griffin Brook, a feeder stream to the federally designated, Wild and Scenic Westfield River. The property also includes a trail to the top of Round Hill, the highest point in Hampden County – something of note to local peak baggers. The open, grassy summit of Round Hill is interspersed hickory and juniper trees and offers great views in winter. Hilltown Land Trust is very grateful to Sarah and William Freedberg their conservation vision and help in protecting this land.”

Sarah Freedberg commented “We love this land that we are privileged to own, and our goal in placing on it a conservation restriction is to preserve it in all its natural beauty and diversity.”

Filed Under: Conservation Stories, Our Protected Lands

Events Calendar

Today
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
27
1:00 PM - Clary Hill Trail Opening Hike
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1:00 PM - Learning Land Stewardship: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
6:00 PM - Accessible Trails Public Forum (Webinar)
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
12:00 AM - Chesterfield Gorge Ultra & 25k
Clary Hill Trail Opening Hike
Clary Hill Trail Opening Hike
Apr 27th, 2025    
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Clary Hill
  • Family Fun
  • Hike
**RESCHEDULED TO SUN. APRIL 27TH DUE TO WEATHER** Celebrate the opening of HLT’s newest trails at Clary Hill with a 2-mile hike! Explore the meadow, [...]
More Info
Learning Land Stewardship: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
Learning Land Stewardship: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
May 8th, 2025    
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
  • Hands-On
  • Hike
  • Workshop
“Forest resilience” is a big buzzword right now, especially in the face of climate change. But what does a resilient forest – or farm or [...]
More Info
Accessible Trails Public Forum (Webinar)
Accessible Trails Public Forum (Webinar)
May 8th, 2025    
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  • Partnership Event
  • Webinar
Do you have a disability, have a loved one with a disability, or advocate for accessible outdoor spaces? Our state partners invite you to join [...]
More Info
Chesterfield Gorge Ultra & 25k
Chesterfield Gorge Ultra & 25k
May 31st, 2025 - Jun 1st, 2025    
All Day
  • Partnership Event
  • Race
Join Hilltown Land Trust and Beast Coast Trail Running for the sixth-annual Chesterfield Gorge Ultra and 25k Race, including the only 100 mile race in [...]
More Info
Events on Apr 27th, 2025
Clary Hill Trail Opening Hike
Clary Hill Trail Opening Hike
27 Apr 25
Goshen
Events on May 8th, 2025
Learning Land Stewardship: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
Learning Land Stewardship: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
8 May 25
Accessible Trails Public Forum (Webinar)
Accessible Trails Public Forum (Webinar)
8 May 25
Events on May 31st, 2025
Chesterfield Gorge Ultra & 25k
Chesterfield Gorge Ultra & 25k
31 May 25
  • About
    • Board & Committees
    • Staff and TerraCorps members
    • Affiliation with The Trustees
    • Announcements
    • Newsletters
    • Contact
    • Open Positions
  • Land Protection
    • Conservation Restrictions
    • Agricultural Preservation Restrictions
    • Financial Incentives
    • Donating or Selling Land
    • Estate Planning
    • Landowner & Town Resources
  • Properties
    • Trails & Maps
      • Big View Trail
      • Bradley
      • Breckenridge
      • Clary Hill
      • Conwell
      • Hilltown Boulders
      • Historic Dam Trail
      • Locke’s Loop Trail
      • Robert’s Meadow Brook Trail
      • Round Top Hill
      • Stevens
      • Two Mamas Farm Waterfall Trail
    • Land Stewardship
    • Conservation Stories
  • Get Involved
    • Events
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • Support
    • Legacy Giving
    • Gorge après Gorge
    • Vernal Pool Plunge

Learn

  • Announcements
  • Staff and TerraCorps members
  • Contact

Participate

  • Events
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

Hike

  • Bradley
  • Breckenridge
  • Stevens
Land Trust Accreditation seal
Contact Us
admin: Log in
© 2025 Hilltown Land Trust | Hilltown Land is a 501c3 nonprofit organization | Est. 1986