SHERBORN, Mass. – The Trustees of Reservations announced today that it is in the fundraising phase to acquire Millborn Farm, an iconic site situated in the towns of Sherborn and Millis in the heart of the Charles River Valley.
The Trustees face a Dec. 31 deadline to raise $14.4 million to acquire and protect this property. The sum includes the acquisition expense, reservation activation costs, and an endowment for long-term care of the property. Approximately $9.6 million has been raised by The Trustees to date.
The property includes 180 acres of open landscape criss-crossed by stonewall-lined hay fields, forestland, farm lanes, and more than a mile of waterfront along the Charles River, Bogastow Brook and South End Pond. The farm contains 75 acres of productive hay fields and grasslands that support native pollinators, plants, and wildlife. One hundred and thirty-nine species of birds have been documented at Millborn Farm and it is believed that as many as 50 more species frequent the property.
With the addition of Millborn Farm to the Trustees portfolio, it would connect navigable water to nine other Trustees reservations: Cedariver in Millis and Shattuck Reservation in Medfield to the south, Bridge Island Meadows to the east across South End Pond. Rocky Narrows in Sherborn, Medfield Meadow Lots in Medfield, Peters Reservation in Dover, and Charles River Peninsula in Needham to the north all abut the Charles River. Further, hiking trails from Shattuck Reservation connect to Noon Hill Reservation in Medfield and those from Peters Reservation connect to Chase Woodlands in Dover. The connectivity would make a water trail possible between the nine different properties.
“Millborn Farm is a highly desirable property for many of its features, but also because it would provide us with the opportunity to help protect the Charles River and its watershed,” said Katie Theoharides, CEO and president of The Trustees. “Protecting the river floodplain is important during this time of increased flooding due to climate change. The more than a mile of waterfront at this property provides important storage for flood waters, as well as critical wildlife habitat.”
Theoharides said The Trustees’ vision for the property includes having it open to the public for self-guided exploration and passive recreation, including birdwatching, hiking, horseback riding, and snowshoeing. A multi-year plan to revitalize the property would also include future engagement and experiential learning opportunities, as well as school partnerships and field trips based on community needs and interests. Given the extensive waterfront, Trustees engagement staff would collaborate with Trustees ecologists to determine how best to provide water access, which could include boardwalks, viewing platforms, a kayak launch or managed shoreline access.
“The Trustees has a long, rich history of land conservation in the Charles River Valley,” Theoharides said. “Our deep connections to the communities in this region are evident, and we hope to conserve Millborn Farm for the public’s use and enjoyment forever. There truly is no other property in the region like it.”
To support the campaign, as well as get updates, go to thetrustees.org/savemillborn.
More about The Trustees
Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees has, for more than 125 years, been a catalyst for important ideas, endeavors, and progress in Massachusetts. As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of both historic and cultural value, The Trustees is the nation’s first preservation and conservation organization, and its landscapes and landmarks continue to inspire discussion, innovation, and action today as they did in the past. We are a nonprofit, supported by members, friends and donors and our 118 sites are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming millions of guests annually. www.thetrustees.org.