Franklin Land Trust collaborated with Hilltown Land Trust to present a hike on the land of avid land conservationist and frequent land trust volunteer, Conway resident Tony Borton. Representatives from both organizations as well as naturalists and hikers came together to honor Tony’s successful effort to conserve the land near his home.
Following Tony’s lead, we hiked through five inches of packed early snow. Sometimes we walked parallel to a descending brook that played an important role in the development of Conway. Along with other historical facts, Tony explained that in the early 1800s, Conway was the town that had the largest population in western MA with the exception of West Springfield. This was because of the vast availability of hydro power. Today, Conway’s population is around 2,000! After the hike, participants enjoyed cider and donuts, a warm fire and conversation in Tony’s home.
Tony is a role model for budding land conservation activists. To learn more about his perspective and accomplishments, click on the link below to read an article about Tony from the Greenfield Recorder: https://www.recorder.com/Borton-neighbors-protect-Conway-wilderness-21958362.
