72° and Patchy rain nearby
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Source: Google Maps. A rough estimate of the Millborn Farm property, which is located in Sherborn and Millis, is outlined in red on this map.
12-28-2023 10:31pm
Trustees of Reservations Within Sight of Goal to Acquire 180-Acre Millborn Farm in Sherborn and Millis
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Thanks to The Trustees of Reservations for contributing this news to Westwood Minute.
SHERBORN, Mass. – The Trustees of Reservations last week announced that it is within sight of securing the $14.4 million 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 an end of the year deadline to raise the funds and now sits at $12.7 million in donations. The current owners of Millborn gave The Trustees until December 31, 2023 to raise the funds necessary to acquire and protect the property. The sum includes the acquisition expense, reservation activation costs, and an endowment for long-term care of the property.
The property includes 180 acres of open landscape crisscrossed 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.
“This beautiful and special place will be protected from development and open to everyone forever if we succeed with this fundraising campaign,” said Jenna Gomes, interim head of development at The Trustees. Information about the campaign is available at: thetrustees.org/savemillborn.
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.
