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About Us
Some FAQS

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WHAT IS THE SOUTHWICK LAND TRUST?

The Southwick Land Trust  (SLT) is a non-profit and non-governmental organization formed in 2024 by a group of town residents that seeks to protect lands within the community of Southwick, Massachusetts. Some of the reasons that drive us to protect include providing open space for public recreational access, protection against the effects of climate change, protection of public drinking water supply, protection of plant and animal habitat, protection of the food supply produced by our local agriculture, and protection of scenic and historic features of a landscape that are valued by Southwick community. We also aspire to make access to open space easier and more enjoyable for all.

 

The SLT's model is to do research, identify and prioritize potential parcels of land in Southwick by consulting with regional and national conservation agencies as well as by dialoguing with other local stakeholders, such as town residents and neighboring communities. We are inspired by the Granby Land Trust's model and their success. Their focus on land within the town of Granby, Connecticut has fostered a town-wide culture of commitment to preservation.

 

Our goal is to directly connect with landowners who are interested in preserving their land as part of their legacy and work with them to protect it from development. We are committed to discussing all options with them in order to find a way to make their vision for conservation come to fruition.

 

SLT will work with legal consultants to be sure that boundaries are surveyed and respected, fair appraisals and assessments are given, and titles are researched. Ultimately, the land trust will steward and maintain the land for which we take responsibility.

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What land trusts do NOT do is seize land from property owners without their permission or allow use of the land that is counter to the wishes of the owners. 

 

The Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition lists some of  the benefits to communities of land conservation:

  • Boosting the economy

  • Attracting tourists and visitors

  • Boosting local businesses

  • Improving health of its citizens

  • Moderating temperatures and filtering water

  • Enabling recreation

  • Improving air quality

  • Protecting agriculture, forestry, and bodies of water

 

 For more information, click this MassLand link.

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HOW IS SOUTHWICK LAND TRUST FUNDED?

SLT is intentionally an all-volunteer organization so that we are able to direct all contributions directly to land acquisition and the long-term stewardship of our properties.

 

We are setting out to raise funds for our projects through grants, memberships, and outright donations from individuals and businesses, including donations of land as well as stock, bond or investment gifts or planned giving such as a bequests or naming SLT as a beneficiary of your IRA or life insurance, Memorial and remembrance donations will also honor someone with a long-term investment in Southwick's greenspaces. 

 

SLT will also hold events and sell merchandise to support our fundraising efforts. The funds raised will go directly to support the purchase of property, easements, and right-of-ways.  They will also provide educational opportunities and events to build community appreciation for the value of open space and land conservation.

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WHAT’S IN IT FOR SOUTHWICK?

Nature Keeps Our Economy in the Green

With minimal investment and upkeep, greenspaces drive recreation and spark tourism while simultaneously reducing the need for expensive infrastructure. By protecting undeveloped land, Southwick has more spaces for popular activities such as hiking, mountain biking, geocaching, birding, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, orienteering, and outdoor games. Greenspaces reduce municipal expenses by providing natural, highly effective flood, drought, and clean air mitigation. Finally, outdoor amenities attract businesses and new residents while increasing the value of our homes. (MassLand.org p.16)

 

WE asked for this 

In the summer of 2022, more than 900 Southwick residents responded to a 41-question survey asking us to envision the best version of our town in 2040. Of those who responded, 80% said Southwick should encourage the town’s historic character, 75% said it should encourage its rural character, and 63% said Southwick should lower its carbon footprint. Only 19% of respondents said Southwick should encourage industrial development. (Report for Southwick Community Engagement Survey, Question 7)

 

It’s all part of the plan…the Southwick 2040 Master Plan, that is!

Saving open space aligns with Southwick’s 2040 Master Plan, which was written with comprehensive community input in 2023 and is presently being reviewed for approval by the Town of Southwick's Planning Board. This Master Plan includes actionable steps toward a future in which, “Southwick has plentiful water resources, wetlands, forests, farmlands, wildlife habitats, and soil diversity that are celebrated, actively-used and well-protected, creating a healthy and sustainable community where residents can easily access the beauty and passive recreational opportunities that come from the preservation of our natural and agricultural heritage.” (Southwick 2040 Master Plan, p. 77)

 

In fact, one of the Master Plan’s target strategies is, “Maintain town’s open space and natural resources through proper stewardship that is sustained by continued and informed governmental support, volunteer engagement opportunities and allocation of appropriate funding.” (Southwick 2040 Master Plan, p. 94). The Southwick Land Trust is “volunteer engagement” in action!

 

Southwick's a “Jog” in the wheel

There are no town lines where biodiversity is concerned. Land preservation helps us work with bordering towns to make important environmental impacts. For example, Southwick has 3,578 acres of Critical Natural Landscape - undeveloped land identified as providing essential ecologies needed for diverse plants and animals to survive. When natural landscapes connect from town to town, these large blocks of land become corridors where wide-ranging species can endure and where natural habitats thrive. Just as aligning with other communities has made Southwick part of a rail-to-trail system that connects us all the way to New Haven, CT, land preservation with our neighbors in Agawam, Granby, Granville, Suffield, and Westfield has the potential to expand our outdoor resources exponentially. (Southwick 2040 Master Plan, p. 86)

 

Farms Are Everyone’s Business

We need only to look to eastern Massachusetts to know that once farmland is sold to developers, its service for food production disappears forever. This growing loss is devestating because agriculture is a critical contributor to local economies. It provides jobs and fuels small businesses. Furthermore, locally grown food is fresher. It keeps commerce local. It carries a smaller carbon footprint, it insulates us against some effects of climate change, and it keeps us resilient against national and worldwide disturbances such as weather catastrophes and geopolitical upset. According to the Healy Administration’s Farmland Action Plan 2023 - 2050, “Massachusetts’ more than 7,000 farms steward nearly 500,000 acres of farmland (about 10% of the state’s land) and are an economic engine for the Commonwealth, generating $10 billion in economic activity annually.” Unlike many Massachusetts towns, Southwick is still rich in farmland - for now. Let’s conserve our most precious local resource so we have farms in the future, too.  (MassLand.org, p.16) (Farmland Action Plan 2023 - 2050, p. 2)

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WHAT’S IN IT FOR US?

It’s why we live here

While not everyone gets to choose where they live, many of us do - and WE CHOOSE SOUTHWICK! According to the Southwick Master Plan’s survey in 2022 of more than 900 town residents, most of us own or rent in “the Wick” because we value Southwick’s rural feel, its agricultural roots, and its small town vibe. Our welcoming lakes, woods, and fields make us special among our more congested Hampden County neighbors. Visitors come to Southwick for outdoor recreation, open space, and scenic New England beauty, not for big box stores. As a community planning for the future, we’ve made our preference clear: Southwick won’t get lost in the sprawl. (Southwick 2040 Master Plan, p. 3)

 

Nature is health!

There’s a forest of research indicating time spent in nature reduces stress, improves focus, encourages physical activity, expands our sense of well-being, and ignites our sense of awe. Time spent in outdoor greenspaces can reduce BMI, blood pressure, and pulmonary disease. It reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety. Growing up with access to nature is linked to long-term mental health benefits for children. Finally, parks and preserves foster prosocial interactions while reminding us of our connection to the wider world. In short, access to nature is a prescription for well-being. Help us make sure there’s plenty to go around. 

(American Psychological Association, Weir, 2020)

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YOU matter!

If you’ve ever looked at our crazy world and thought, “But what can I do?” the Southwick Land Trust has some fabulous ideas:

  •  Talk to us about land you’d like to conserve

  •  Donate time or money to help us toward our goals

  •  Introduce a friend to outdoor recreation

  •  Vote for land preservation, starting here in town

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Whichever of these ideas might appeal to you, your actions will be the first step in a lasting legacy for generations to come. Working for positive change matters. It’s fulfilling, empowering, enduring, and meaningful. Plus, you don’t need to be a millionaire to make the world a better place - but it’ll make you feel like a million bucks. 

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