Landowners Donate Conservation Restriction on 154 Acres in Windsor
September 12, 2024
In August 2024, Heather Bargeron and her daughter Marguerite Birrell donated a perpetual conservation restriction (CR) on their land in Windsor to Mass Audubon, protecting 154 acres of beautiful, rolling woodlands and open fields along scenic Windsor Bush Road.
Conservation Character
The property includes a diversity of habitats, including upland forests, grasslands and frontage on the Westfield River, a designated National Wild and Scenic River. It is a vital link between the 1,850-acre Windsor State Forest to the west and Mass Audubon’s 1,800-acre West Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary to the east.
While still owned by Heather and Marguerite, the CR eliminates the potential for development that would disrupt the connectivity of this large landscape corridor, which is critical habitat for a range of wildlife—from bears to bees.
A Vision Realized
The property is steeped in history and originally included one of the oldest farms and homes in Windsor, as well as talc mines that were an important resource in the region. Heather moved to the property in 1979 and dedicated much of her time to maintaining the land and transformed a portion of it into a sanctuary for abused farm animals. She also hosted an outdoor theater camp on the property for 15 years, which included a large open-air woodland theater. Heather always saw the value in her land for people and wildlife and had been working for years to find the right way to protect it.
In 2021, Heather and Marguerite connected with Mass Audubon and together we created a conservation restriction that will enable Heather, Marguerite and their successors to reside on the property and continue their low-impact use, while maintaining the conservation values of the land.
Thank You
We are deeply grateful to Heather and Marguerite for their commitment to land protection and the stewardship of their property.
Mass Audubon was fortunate to receive a grant from the Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee to support the project. In addition, the Massachusetts Conservation Land Tax Credit (CLTC) program was key to secure a state tax credit for the landowners’ donation of the conservation restriction to Mass Audubon.
The protection of this land would not have been possible without the dedication of our colleague Kate Buttolph, who passed away last fall, and who was integral to bringing this project to fruition. We honor her land conservation legacy, which will benefit the people and wildlife of Massachusetts for generations to come.
Protecting Your Land
Are you someone like Heather and Marguerite who sees the unique value in your property and would like to see it conserved for years to come? Then check out your options for protecting land with Mass Audubon.