In 1999, Dr. John and Amy Blitzer donated a conservation easement on their 148-acre tree farm in Bradford, ensuring that it will remain a working forest forever. John died in 2004, but Amy has maintained her passion for protecting important land.
On December 17, 2014, Amy donated a second easement of approximately 41 acres on Center Road in Bradford. This new property has extensive frontage on Center Road, offers a well-managed forest, and is currently used to graze cattle. The property protects valuable forestry and agricultural soils. There is a pond on the property that supports native amphibians and fish and associated wetlands that offer important habitat for many species. The land is near over 325 acres of conserved land including the Battles Farm.
This Blitzer property now protects over 1,860 feet of frontage on Bradford’s Center Road. The easement ensures that the land will remain open for public access to low impact outdoor recreation, and it has a trail network in place.
It is Cathy Aronosian’s objective to conserve the field on her property as well as the forest and wetland and on December 29, 2014, that became a reality. The property has been used for horses in the past and will continue to be used in that way. There is significant road frontage associated with the property with over 945 feet of scenic hayfield frontage on Schoodac Brook Road, over 1,200 feet of frontage on Poverty Plains Road and over 1,369 feet of frontage on Interstate 89.
The property’s back line runs along 1,850 feet of frontage along Schoodac Brook and includes significant wetlands associated with the brook allowing it to be listed as Highest Ranked Habitat in New Hampshire. It is also identified in the Nature Conservancy’s and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services’ “Schoodac Brook Conservation Plan.”
The 42-acre Aronosian property, which was protected with the help of the Town of Warner’s Conservation Commission, is near over 450 acres of conserved land, including several of Ausbon Sargent’s Courser Easements.
The 51-acre Jillette Conservation Easement is located in Goshen with over 815 feet of frontage on the east side of Brickyard Road. Landowner Bea Jillette manages the property for timber production and her large field, with its beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, is maintained by a local farmer for hay production. The property is highly rated
for wildlife habitat and highly ranked forestry soils and is very close to over 17,000 acres of contiguous conservation land.
The owner has kept the property open for low impact outdoor recreation. This property was protected with the help of the Quabbin to Cardigan Partnership.
With the addition of these three properties, Ausbon Sargent now protects 134 properties covering 10,867 acres in its 12-town region.