BEDFORD, NY – Westchester Land Trust announced today the permanent protection of 15.8 acres in Bedford, through a conservation easement donated to WLT, its 200th. This major milestone for WLT brings the organization’s total acreage protected by conservation easement to 5,380. A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently restricts the development of a property in order to protect the land’s important conservation values.

“We are grateful that these visionary landowners have chosen to protect their property in perpetuity. This easement expands a significant corridor of protected land in the Town of Bedford, where WLT first got its start 29 years ago. With the completion of our 200^th easement, I would like to salute all the landowners, donors, municipal officials, volunteers, and staff members who have supported our mission over the years to make it possible. It’s a great day for land conservation in Westchester,” said Bruce Churchill, WLT’s Chairman of the Board.

The property lies within the Mianus River watershed a region noted for its ecological and biological significance.  The permanently protected land boasts a wide diversity of plant communities and a mosaic of habit types including healthy woodlands, dense shrublands – ideal for nesting songbirds, and wetland areas that offer safe breeding ground for a variety of native animals. During a recent site visit to the land, WLT’s land project manager John Baker, observed late summer cicadas calling from the dense understory of a woodland area, while a pair of nesting red-tailed hawks circled high above the shrubland.

“We are thrilled to have worked with WLT to realize our vision for our land and our long-standing interest in protecting our local environment,” shared the easement landowners who wish to remain anonymous. “We now truly appreciate how individual landowners’ actions can have such a beneficial impact on the wider region. We hope our actions might inspire others to consider preserving their land as well.”

While the conservation easement is not open to the public, the landowners have reserved the right to allow future access for horseback riders to the bridle trails on the property.

Landowners who wish to learn more about exploring their land protection options with the Westchester Land Trust are encouraged to call John Baker, WLT Land Conservation Project Manager, at 914.234.6992 ext. 25 or John@westchesterlandtrust.org.

ABOUT WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST

Based in Bedford Hills, the Westchester Land Trust works with public and private partners to preserve land in perpetuity and to enhance the natural resources in Westchester and eastern Putnam counties—a densely populated region under persistent threat from the pressures of development.   Through the use of conservation easements and outright acquisition, WLT’s efforts benefit the long-term health of these communities by safeguarding air quality, food supply and community character, as well as critical watershed areas.  One of the first land trusts in the nation to receive Accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance, WLT which was founded in 1988, has preserved almost 8,000 acres of open space. More than 700-acres of land are owned by the organization which are free and open to the public year round.

For more information about WLT, please visit westchesterlandtrust.org and connect with us on Facebook & Instagram (@WestchesterLandTrust) as well as Twitter (@WLT_NY).

Caption: Westchester Land Trust’s 200^th conservation easement protects an important corridor in the Mianus River watershed in Bedford, NY.