New wildlife sanctuary created at La Salette Shrine

Visitors preview the new sanctuary in October.

photo: Charlie Adler

One hundred and seventeen acres of the La Salette Shrine off Park Street was permanently dedicated as a wildlife sanctuary on June 24, thanks to the generosity of the La Salette community and a strong collaboration among local officials and conservation leaders.

A partnership involving the City of Attleboro, Mass Audubon, and the Attleboro Land Trust began working with La Salette in 2006 to protect the property and provide for its future. The land is now permanently protected by a conservation restriction held by the City of Attleboro and the Attleboro Land Trust. Mass Audubon will manage this diverse landscape, which will be known as Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary at La Salette, while the Missionaries of La Salette will continue to own the property.

The property contains upland oak woods, red maple swamps, streams, vernal pools, a field, and a pond. The quality of its wildlife habitat led the Commonwealth to designate the property several years ago as among the most important for preservation of the state’s biodiversity. Notable wildlife include spotted turtles, several species of dragonflies and damselflies, a variety of amphibians, and forest-interior birds such as the wood thrush and ovenbird. Several trails wind through the property and allow exploration of the property's diverse natural and historical features.

Over the next year Mass Audubon will complete planning for the sanctuary and will construct trails, boardwalks, and a parking area to make the property more accessible for the public’s enjoyment. The formal opening of Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary at La Salette is planned for 2010.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to protect an important natural area just a mile from the center of Attleboro,” said Mass Audubon President Laura Johnson. “We are incredibly grateful to the La Salette community for their generosity and vision, and to the City of Attleboro and the Attleboro Land Trust for their partnership in making this happen. This is a great example of how organizations with a common vision can work together to create something of lasting public and environmental benefit.”

The property also has a long and rich history. It was purchased by La Salette in 1942 for use as a seminary. For many years prior to that, it was a sanitarium operated by Dr. James Solomon, who used spring waters and medicinal herbs on the property for their healing purposes.

The partners raised a total of $785,000 for the project, including a $495,000 state grant and $290,000 in private fundraising. Some of these funds will be used by Mass Audubon to construct trails, boardwalks, and a parking area for the new sanctuary. The remainder will be set aside as an endowment to provide an ongoing source of income for the property’s management and interpretation.

The state grant was provided by the Commonwealth’s LAND (Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity) program, which provides assistance to municipalities for purchase of land and conservation restrictions. Private support came from a number of foundations and individuals, including the Attleboro Foundation, Bafflin Foundation, Bristol County Charitable Foundation, Ernest H. Augat Charitable Foundation, Fields Pond Foundation, Fred M. Roddy Foundation, George H. and Jane A. Mifflin Memorial Trust, the Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation, Ottmar Foundation, and the Roddy-Holden Foundation. No city funds were used, a condition that the partners agreed to early on.

Welcome

The Attleboro Land Trust is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to keeping Attleboro green.

We currently own and manage eight conservation areas.  Most of our properties have walking trails which are open to the public.

All of our properties have been donated by generous citizens for the purpose of preserving open space for current and future generations.

Our activities include:

• Encouraging citizens and businesses to donate land
• Caring for donated properties
• Educating the public on the importance of preserving undeveloped land and open space

If you would like to help preserve open space in our city, become a part of the Attleboro Land Trust. Meet new friends and contribute to your community. Get involved now!

Attleboro Area Community Garden

All plots in the Attleboro Area Community Garden are now taken, including 16 new plots this year.   Gardeners now have a new website where garden events are posted and gardeners exchange information.

Greening the Local Economy

As the Attleboro Land Trust continues its work on land conservation, a new local group, Citizens for a Sustainable Local Economy, has formed to promote local food production, renewable energy, and other sustainable activities.

Red-winged blackbird in David W. Parfitt Nature Preserve

photo: Charlie Adler

Attleboro Land Trust receives gift of land in South Attleboro

Blue flag irises dot a marsh in land donated by David Parfitt.

photo: Charlie Adler 

The Attleboro Land Trust is pleased to announce that it has received a donation of conservation land from David W. Parfitt. Mr. Parfitt has donated 5.5 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to the Anthony Lawrence Wildlife Preserve off Hope Avenue in South Attleboro.

With this generous gift, the land trust now owns and protects the entirety of a pristine open wetland that borders the Seven Mile River near the Hill Roberts School. Some varieties of native plant and animal life recently observed on the property are deer, snapping turtles, red-winged blackbirds, cattails, and blue flag iris.

Blottman family donates 17.7 acres of land off Slater Street

The Attleboro Land Trust is pleased to announce that it has received a donation of conservation land from the family of John Blottman. The parcel will be named the Blottman-Kenton Nature Preserve. The land, which has been designated as Priority Habitat by Mass Audubon, is on the Norton line off Slater Street and adjacent to conservation land owned by the City of Attleboro. This gift brings the total area of conservation land owned by the Attleboro Land Trust to 293 acres, all donated by generous citizens for the purpose of preserving open space for current and future generations.

Combined with the recently announced conservation restriction held on the 117-acre Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary at La Salette and another deed restriction on Bayberry Hill Road, the total acreage in the city under the protection of the Attleboro Land Trust is 411 acres.

The land trust welcomes inquiries from anyone interested in donating land to the organization. Not every offer is accepted; each acquisition must be compatible with the long term goals of the land trust. These goals include the protection of wildlife habitat, providing space for passive recreation, and protection of water resources. The land trust is very interested in working with developers to set aside conservation land while subdivision plans are still in their early stages.

Recent Events

Raptors of Massachusetts
	On March 29, the Attleboro Land Trust sponsored Raptors of Massachusetts, a family event featuring Marla Isaac of New England Reptile and Raptor.  Marla introduced Uncle Fester the Turkey Vulture, Max the Great Horned Owl, and several other raptors.