SHERBORN, Mass. – The Trustees of Reservations and the Massachusetts Arborists Association (MAA) have entered a partnership agreement to create an arboriculture learning center at Millborn Farm, a recently-acquired Trustees’ property located in Sherborn and Millis in the heart of the Charles River Valley.

The property will serve as a living, experiential learning and research site to advance the science and art of tree care. The MAA has launched a fundraising campaign to help renovate the historic Carriage Barn on the property into a learning and gathering space.  The partnership highlights the role trees play in carbon sequestration and climate resilience and advances The Trustees’ commitment to land conservation, stewardship, and workforce development.

The Trustees staff and MAA will engage through shared learning experiences, including classes on tree identification and health, growing environments, pruning, removal, soil science, native ecology, industry best practices for safety, and more. Teams from both organizations will be included in learning experiences as appropriate, and educational programs open to the public could be planned.

“In our new strategic plan, forming partnerships to accelerate conservation and connect more people to the land are key priorities,” said Trustees’ President and CEO Katie Theoharides. “This partnership with MAA brings more people into the work of stewarding special places, not just on Trustees special places, but all over the Commonwealth.”

“We are really excited about this partnership,” said D.A. Hayden, Trustees Regional Vice President-Metrowest. “Millborn Farm is a remarkable site for learning on so many levels, providing a true living laboratory and place of observation and respite for both visitors and professionals interested in protecting important natural resources.”

Millborn Farm, which will open to the public in June 2026, was acquired by The Trustees in 2023. 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.

About The Trustees

Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees has, for over 130 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 124 sites are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming millions of guests annually. www.thetrustees.org.

About the Massachusetts Arborists Association (MAA)
The MAA is a professional trade organization dedicated to promoting the advancement of the arboriculture industry through education, certification, and advocacy. For more than 90 years, the MAA has served as the voice of professional tree care in Massachusetts, supporting arborists in achieving excellence and safety in their work.

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