Bedford, NY—Westchester Land Trust (WLT), a nationally accredited land conservation nonprofit headquartered in Bedford Hills, NY, announced it has accepted and strengthened a conservation easement on a 44.75-acre property in Bedford that was formerly protected through the Bedford Historical Society. The amended easement expands the area of land protected by including a portion of land previously set aside for potential development. The land is designated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) as a Known Area for Rare Terrestrial Animals and a Known Area for Rare Plants.

“Westchester Land Trust is honored that the property owner and Bedford Historical Society have entrusted us to care for this land and ensure it remains free from development forever,” said Janelle Robbins, vice president of conservation at Westchester Land Trust. “With its excellent wildlife habitat and proximity to other conserved lands, this property is integral to the fabric of open space in Bedford.”

The land is bisected by the Stone Hill River. As part of the Croton Reservoir System, this waterbody helps provide daily drinking water to approximately nine million people in New York City. The woodlands on the property are dominated by maple, oak, and beech trees, with large rock outcroppings, riparian areas, and red maple swamps.

The landowners were motivated to expand and strengthen the conservation easement to safeguard wildlife habitat and drinking water quality—for their enjoyment, but also for the community.

Located within a 933-acre core forest that includes Indian Hill Park and other conservation easements held by WLT, this property also contributes to the scenic rural character of Bedford and the surrounding area. Westchester Land Trust has a long history of land protection in the town where it’s headquartered, with more than 1,650 acres protected through preserves and conservation easements in Bedford. The organization is working on additional projects to protect more land in Bedford in the coming months.

The easement will be monitored annually by WLT to ensure there are no threats to its conservation value. It remains private property and is not open for public use.

We acknowledge that our region is within the traditional territories of the Lenape people and that their culture and traditions live on today.

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About Westchester Land Trust

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. Founded in 1988, WLT has preserved 9,278 acres of open space. More than 1,148 acres of land are owned by the organization which are free and open to the public year-round. WLT was one of the first land trusts in the nation to receive accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.