Urgent Land Project: Jennison Road, Wendell

Mass Audubon and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) have an opportunity to permanently protect 35 forested acres in Wendell adjacent to the Whetstone Wood Wildlife Sanctuary for a total cost of $175,000.

DCR is providing most of the funding, but Mass Audubon must raise the remaining $40,000 to make it happen. We need your help to do that!

What Makes This Land Special

Two features in particular make this land a priority for protection – connectivity and water supply.  

Connectivity: Assembling large areas of connected protected land is crucial in the face of climate change. It bolsters the ability of wildlife to move through the landscape—a critical need given the pressure climate change puts on species to find suitable habitat. This parcel lies within thousands of protected acres.

Water Supply: Lying within the Quabbin Reservoir watershed, protection of this property contributes to long-term water quality by preventing the threat of development. The Quabbin Reservoir provides drinking water to three million people in Massachusetts.

In addition to its role in these larger landscape themes, the property features pristine wetlands, a beaver pond, and thick stands of hemlock.

A Strategic Opportunity

One of the most exciting things about this opportunity is how well it fits with other land protection activities in the area. Mass Audubon completed the preservation of 101 acres just south of this property in December 2022, and DCR is in the process of protecting an additional 80 acres in the immediate vicinity.  All of these projects enhance the resilience and habitat value of the Whetstone Wood Wildlife Sanctuary, and of DCR’s watershed lands. 

Make an Impact

Help protect this land today with a donation— we can't do it without you!