In an effort to expand protection and improvement of community gardens, greenways, and urban wilds, The Trustees of Reservations and Boston Natural Areas Network have formed a permanent affiliation to act with one voice for conservation.
Since 1891, The Trustees, the world's oldest regional land trust, has helped protect open lands as well as historical, cultural, and natural landmarks throughout Massachusetts. Currently, half of Massachusetts' population lives within five miles of one of the 53,000 acres of land protected and cared for by The Trustees, including favorite destinations such as Crane's Beach in Ipswich, World's End in Hingham and Monument Mountain in Great Barrington. The new affiliation with BNAN will enable The Trustees to expand conservation efforts into Boston, helping to preserve the City's character and diminishing natural landscapes.
"It has been a priority to help ensure urban centers like Boston remain livable, where residents and visitors have access to parks and open spaces," said Andrew Kendall, president of The Trustees. "BNAN's success and strong Boston identity make them an ideal partner with whom The Trustees can work to fulfill this mission. This is a unique opportunity to create synergies and economies between two organizations for the benefit and enjoyment of all who live in, or visit Boston, and we are thrilled that it has happened."
BNAN will remain a separate not-for-profit, and will continue to own its 37 community gardens, and operate its broad range of educational and community organizing programs. BNAN's affiliation with The Trustees will accelerate its efforts to acquire, protect, and advocate for Boston's lands and strengthen the organizations' shared commitment to promote quality of life in the City.
"For 29 years, BNAN has successfully worked to preserve, protect and improve community gardens, greenways, and urban wilds throughout Boston," said Valerie Burns, BNAN president. "Our commitment to Boston and to all those who live here is at the heart of our mission, and that is why we affiliated with The Trustees. The relationship will allow us to expand our efforts to pursue the advocacy, development, and funding necessary to enhance the protection and expansion of Boston's green spaces. We look forward to working with our community and public partners like Boston's Mayor Menino, Environmental Services Chief Jim Hunt, Parks Commissioner Toni Pollak and state DCR Commissioner Stephen Burrington to support the agenda for a greener city."
Many Bostonians live near or enjoy the urban wilds and community gardens BNAN has protected and cares for in Boston's neighborhoods. However, as the City of Boston continues to face limited resources for expanding the protection and improvement of these natural areas, the affiliation between BNAN and The Trustees is well-timed. Supported by a new $4 million endowment, together BNAN and The Trustees will have expanded resources to carry out their mission in Boston more broadly and effectively, including completing the multi-mile Neponset River and East Boston greenways and pursuing new open space projects with community and public partners. For more information on the greenways, go to www.bostonnatural.org/greenways.php.
As an affiliate of The Trustees, BNAN will continue operating as an independent, nonprofit organization with its own board. Valerie Burns will continue as president of BNAN, and will join The Trustees as a Vice President. BNAN staff will become employees of The Trustees. The Trustees board will include two BNAN directors, and BNAN's board will include two Trustees directors.
"The Trustees' immediate goal is to support BNAN in pursuing its mission in Boston," noted Kendall, "However, we also hope to apply BNAN's expertise to other urban centers in Massachusetts where The Trustees has a presence, including Fall River, Holyoke, Leominster, and Gloucester. In the end, we view the affiliation not only as a win for Boston, but a victory for Massachusetts."
About The Trustees of Reservations
Founded in 1891, The Trustees of Reservations is the nation's oldest regional nonprofit conservation organization. Supported by more than 45,000 members, The Trustees protect Massachusetts' natural and historic resources for everyone to enjoy. From working farms to historic homesteads, barrier beaches to mountain vistas, The Trustees own, manage, and interpret nearly 25,000 acres on 96 reservations in 70 communities across Massachusetts, including four National Historic Landmarks, a National Natural Landmark, and seven properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In addition, The Trustees hold perpetual conservation restrictions on nearly 14,000 acres -- more than any other conservation organization in Massachusetts -- permanently protecting scenic and natural areas from development, while landowners retain ownership and management responsibilities under certain restrictions. For properties more suitable for protection by partner organizations, The Trustees have assisted in the protection of nearly 12,000 additional acres.
With the support of more than 13,500 donors, The Trustees have just completed a landmark capital campaign, raising $62.3 million in cash and receiving more than $35 million in land in just five years -- the largest campaign by an environmental organization in Massachusetts' history. Funds raised have been used to establish nine new reservations on 1,685 acres -- all of which are open to the public.
The Trustees employ 130 full-time and 400 seasonal staff with expertise in many areas, including ecology, education, historic resources, land protection, conservation, land management, and planning. To find out how you can interview Trustees' experts on important topics and issues, volunteer or become a member, please call The Trustees of Reservations at 781.784.0567, visit our website at www.thetrustees.org, or email us at membership@ttor.org.
About Boston Natural Areas Network
BNAN preserves, expands, and improves community gardens, greenways, and urban wilds in neighborhoods throughout Boston. Through community organizing, acquisition, programming, and advocacy, BNAN has led the protection of over 800 acres of urban wilds, and the creation of over 3 miles of greenways. In addition, BNAN as the city's largest land trust owns 37 community gardens and provides services to all Boston's 175 urban gardens. As an advocate for urban space for 29 years, BNAN has a unique position to speak for Boston's green space issues. BNAN's work is implemented through a wide network of relationships with citizens, elected and appointed officials, non-profit organizations and businesses that encompass public and private open spaces across the city. Please visit our website at www.bostonnatural.org for more information.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Capeless Students Raise $5,619 for Charity
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Students at Capeless Elementary School celebrated the season of giving by giving back to organizations that they feel inspired them.
On Monday night, 28 fourth-grade students showed off the projects they did to raise funds for an organization of their choice. They had been given $5 each to start a small business by teachers Jeanna Newton and Lidia White.
Newton created the initiative a dozen years ago after her son did one while in fifth grade at Craneville Elementary School, with teacher Teresa Bills.
"And since it was so powerful to me, I asked her if I could steal the idea, and she said yes. And so the following year, I began, and I've been able to do it every year, except for those two years (during the pandemic)," she said. "And it started off as just sort of a feel-good project, but it has quickly tied into so many of the morals and values that we teach at school anyhow, especially our Portrait of a Graduate program."
Students used the venture capital to sell cookies, run raffles, make jewelry, and more. They chose to donate to charities and organizations like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Berkshire Humane Society and Toys for Tots.
"Teaching them that because they have so much and they're so blessed, recognizing that not everybody in the community has as much, maybe not even in the world," said Newton. "Some of our organizations were close to home. Others were bigger hospitals, and most of our organizations had to do with helping the sick or the elderly, soldiers, people in need."
Once they have finished and presented their projects, the students write an essay on what they did and how it makes them feel.
"So the essay was about the project, what they decided to do, how they raised more money," Newton said. "And now that the project is over, this week, we're writing about how they feel about themselves and we've heard everything from I feel good about myself to this has changed me."
Sandra Kisselbrock raised $470 for St. Jude's by selling homemade cookies.
"It made me feel amazing and happy to help children during the holiday season," she said.
Gavin Burke chose to donate to the Soldier On Food Pantry. He shoveled snow to earn money to buy the food.
"Because they helped. They used to fight for our country and used to help protect us from other countries invading our land and stuff," he said.
Desiree Brignoni-Lay chose to donate to Toys for Tots and bought toys with the $123 she raised.
Luke Tekin raised $225 for the Berkshire Humane Society by selling raffle tickets for a basket of instant hot chocolate and homemade ricotta cookies because he wanted to help the animals.
"Because animals over, like I'm pretty sure, over 1,000 animals are abandoned each year, he said. "So I really want that to go down and people to adopt them."
The Wildcats marched 84 yards in a drive that consumed 11 minutes, 17 seconds of the third quarter for a critical touchdown in a 48-36 win over Boston’s Cathedral High in the quarter-finals of the Division 8 Tournament. click for more
Evelyn Julieano and Leanne Maschino each put down seven kills, and the Lenox volleyball team came out strong in advancing past Whitinsville Christian in three sets in the Division 5 State Tournament quarter-finals on Friday.
click for more
Kofi Roberts and Everett Bayliss remained tied for the team lead with 14 goals apiece, and Lucas Burrow notched his second goal as Mount Greylock (11-6-1) won for the fourth time in five games and earned its third shutout victory in the Western Mass tournament. click for more
GG Nicastro scored in the 37th minute to break a 1-1 tie, and the Mount Greylock girls soccer team Wednesday went on to a 2-1 win over Monson in the Western Massachusetts Class C Championship Game at Berkshire Community College.
click for more
Primary setter Grace Julieano had 22 assists – 10 of them to her sister Evelyn and eight to Sara Isby in Saturday's three-set win over Mount Greylock. click for more
Darius Taliaferro and Cameron Coon each scored a goal on Friday to lead the Mount Everett boys soccer team to a 2-1 win over Gateway Regional. click for more
