Town received grant to buy Russell Hill property
By Karen Mann Journal Correspondent

Ashburnham was one of only 12 towns to receive a self-help grant this year from the Division of Conservation Services within the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs.

Gary Howland, the president of the Ashburnham Land Trust and a member of the Conservation Commission, said the money would be used to hopefully purchase 180 acres of land on Russell Hill Road.

The town was awarded $200,000 to assist town officials in protecting land from being developed, announced state Sen. Stephen Brewer.

"It is a beautiful part of town," said Howland.

Howland said officials focused on this property for many reasons including the history of it and the natural resources that are located on or near it.

It also is one of the larger, single-owner parcels of land in Ashburnham, Howland said.

The Conservation Commission has been working with the Ashburnham Land Trust and the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust to put this project together.

Dan LaRoche, the director of land protection for Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, said they are still waiting to hear back from the state about why the application was chosen.

"It is a nice piece of land, and it is one of the largest remaining blocks of forest in the area," LaRoche said.

He also believes the fact the land is in danger of being sold played a role n receiving the money

The land is currently classified as Chapter 61A land - agricultural land. This means the town has the first right to buy the land, or town officials can pass that right on to a conservation trust, which can then but the land.

LaRoche said the town has not decided to buy the land, so now his group will try to purchase the land then give it to the town.

Howland said negotiations have begun between the two parties.

"The owners are willing to talk," said Howland. He believes the owners have an interest in protecting the land as conservation land.

Howland and LaRoche said the next step is finding additional funding to buy the land.

Howland said they asked for $500,000 in their application. He thinks Mount Grace will need a few hundred thousand dollars more to be able to purchase the land.

"We may go for more grants," said Howland. "First we want to get an agreed upon price from the owner."

LaRoche said they would also look into other alternatives, such as fundraising.

Howland said if they acquire the land, it will become the keystone lot, and they will add more conservation land to it in the future.

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Karen Mann is a 2006 graduate of Emerson College, in Boston, where she studied journalism. She resides in Townsend.