March 19, 2024

Annual Report of Seekonk Land Trust

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Since 1967 Seekonk Land Conservation Trust has preserved over 700 acres in Seekonk through acquisition and conservation restrictions, and in recent years assisted in many more land preservation successes with the town Community Preservation Committee. These preserved properties enrich our daily lives and enhance what remains of the beautiful rural character of Seekonk. With these properties comes the increased responsibility of stewardship and management. We are excited to be developing a new strategic plan in the coming months to address these issues along with our priority of continued land preservation. 

To fulfill our growing stewardship needs, we have hired Jessica Blackledge to serve as our new Stewardship Coordinator. Given her experience in environmental conservation and a background in landscaping, agriculture and construction industries, we believe Jessie will enable us to sharpen our focus on both the conservation easements we hold as well as on our properties open to the public. Jessie's passion for conservation work is both inspiring and contagious! We hope you will participate in walks, clean up days, and educational programs in the coming year.

A generous gift has resulted in new plantings and improvements in the Cushing Conservation Area. A visit to this area will reveal more native plantings taking root and extensive clearing with assistance from National Grid. It’s a fabulous spot for bird-watching or just a short stroll right along Chestnut Street. Last year, the Land Trust worked closely with the Town to acquire the 40 acre Medeiros farm with CPA funds and an overwhelming vote of support from town residents. The Land Trust has agreed to hold the conservation easement which the state requires for the use of Community Preservation Act funds in purchasing this land.

At our April Annual Meeting we were pleased to honor Rob and Julia Emlen with the Mary C. Wilson Community Conservation Award for their contribution and commitment to conservation. The Land Trust continues to fund and support other activities in the town of Seekonk including:

  • Mini-Grants to Seekonk teachers for student environmental education programs. Recent grants have funded the middle school Green Team which promotes sustainability initiatives, a nature storybook walking trail at Aitken School, a biodiversity nature hike at Caratunk Wildlife Refuge for Martin students, and books on the global impacts of climate change for the high school AP Biology students.
  • Seekonk Public Library Grant for our support of the Environmental Resource Center for books, programs, and the annual Nature Photography Contest. 
    Nature Walks open to the community. The Land Trust partnered with the Runnins River Watershed Alliance to lead educational walks at our Martin Wildlife Refuge and other sites. 
  • Earth Day annual cleanup events on our properties. Special thanks to Scout Troop 1 Seekonk and the Seekonk Recycling Committee!

We are looking forward to the year ahead and invite you to join us in the effort to preserve unique aspects of the beauty Seekonk offers, and to share your ideas and interests with us. We also extend the best of holiday greetings to you and your family and thanks for your continued support!

For further information, please see https://www.seekonklandtrust.org or follow us on www.facebook.com/seekonkLCT 

conservation, SLCT, land trust, annual report

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