By Rob St. Germain, Contributing Writer

Opportunity has knocked!  Will we embrace it?  

Ashland has an opportunity to buy 53 acres abutting the town forest near the end of Winter Street from the United Church of Christ (UCC). This purchase will strengthen the forest as a habitat and expand public trails.  Your Vote at the November 19 Town Meeting will determine its fate.

“I am excited about the opportunity to protect and add 50+ acres of forested land that abuts the Ashland Town Forest. It improves the forest’s health, Ashland’s climate resilience, stormwater runoff, as well as access to natural recreational space for more residents. I am looking forward to having more reasons to see our community in the Ashland Town Forest” exclaimed Cara Hulme, cochair of the Forest Committee and member of the Sustainability Committee.

This purchase would not be possible without the help of the Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT), our conservation partner.  The SVT regards it as a critical purchase.  Laura Mattei, SVT Director of Conservation explains, “This land is some of the best quality forest that I have observed in eastern Massachusetts because it is almost entirely free of invasive plants, has a diversity of trees and a diversity of tree ages.  By adding 53 acres to the town forest, you will be creating a 700+ acre intact forest.  Size matters. It is one of the MOST critical elements to a healthy forest.”  

In answer to the question, “Is this a good deal for the town”?  Ashland Town Manager Michael Herbert responded, “With pressure for housing development mounting, it’s more important than ever to protect the open space we have left”.  

The Town Forest was originally created by Ashland’s benefactor, Henry Warren.  Henry was a talented inventor and industrialist who made a fortune by inventing the first electric clock that kept accurate time.  He had the foresight to realize that forested open space was beginning to disappear, and in 1942 purchased and donated over 500 acres to the town.

Were Henry Warren alive today he might say “BRAVO!” Though his vision for the forest as a town woodlot has morphed over time, he would likely be pleased by how many people use the town forest trails for exercise and to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.  Today we are also aware of, and value, the forest’s trees for their oxygen, carbon sequestration and dramatic cooling effect on the town in summer.

The forest proved its worth during the Covid Pandemic as forest use increased 10-fold by citizens escaping the cabin fever of lock-down for the fresh, safe, air of the forest.  It has also made Ashland a destination as folks come from all over to walk the trails and to visit the Salem End Sanctuary Caves very near this proposed purchase.  It is historic ground..

The town has been in conversation with the UCC leadership regarding this property for many years.  Carl Hakansson hoped to conclude the purchase during his time on the Select Board, but the UCC was not yet ready.  To strengthen the church’s finances, the UCC merged their Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island Conferences.  It took time for the dust to settle, but they are now looking to sell their non-utilized assets including these acres. 

In addition to enhancing its financial strength, the UCC has two moral imperatives: environmental stewardship and helping to solve the housing crisis.  The leadership prefers to sell this land to the town so that it will be protected and remain as open space but if the town does not purchase it, this land may likely be sold to a developer.

Ashland’s citizens are ‘Pro’ Conservation and Open Space preservation.  Evidence of this is replete in the public input to the town’s ongoing Comprehensive Planning Process.  Phrases like: “Ashland aims to protect and increase its green and open spaces, support sustainable, value-based planning and growth, and continue to achieve net zero by 2040,” and “Ashland will… strategically protect priority open space properties,” are part of the draft vision statement.

These words are timely because WE are on the edge of an environmental crisis.  The world’s insect population has decreased by 45% in the last 40 years.  That has been accompanied by a dramatic decrease of the North American bird population -- 30% since 1970, according to the Ornithology Lab at Cornell University.

According to SVT’s Mattei, a larger forest, “provides the best habitat for all wildlife, including insects, birds and mammals.  Some of our birds require these larger forests for successful breeding.  This property also contains an important stream corridor, a high-quality shrub swamp, and a potential vernal pool.  All these features are important habitat elements. All these characteristics are the sign of a healthy forest.”

Ed Hart is a member of the Finance Committee and an adjunct member of the Forest committee.  It is his opinion that, “we can’t afford not to (purchase this property).  We are too rapidly approaching our limit to growth.  The stress on our services, schools, public water supply, traffic congestion, noise, quality of life, value of our homes – all are adversely affected by massive construction projects that alter the town virtually overnight.”  

The cost numbers were not finalized in time for this article, but the town has applied for a state grant that will cover roughly 50% of the cost, and the SVT will contribute to the town’s share in return for a Conservation Restriction. Once concluded, the land will be protected in perpetuity.

Writing in favor of this purchase, State Senate President Karen Spilka added, “As a forty-year resident of Ashland, and as the Senator who has represented this town since 2005, I understand how valuable open space is to this community, particularly space that can be accessed by the residents regardless of age and ability.”  

In recent articles published in the Ashland Town Pages, I suggested that we in Massachusetts towns practice a true form of democracy.  Our many boards, commissions and committees are staffed by volunteer citizens. Most significant though is Town Meeting, where the ‘people’ get to decide how the town’s money is spent.

This land Can Be your land but that is YOUR decision.  Come to Town Meeting on November 19.