Land Conserved Near Wrights Mountain
Earl and Elizabeth Barrett Conservation Area
A land purchase by the Upper Valley Land Trust (UVLT) increases the amount of conserved land in the Wrights Mountain area by 61 acres. The land is located along Route 25 and Wrights Mountain Road in Bradford. It adjoins over 800 acres of contiguous conserved woodland, which includes two privately-owned parcels and as well as the Wrights Mountain/Devil’s Den Forest owned by the Town of Bradford.
UVLT’s acquisition is a step toward a longstanding goal of the Bradford Conservation Commission to provide improved access from the southern side of the Wrights Mountain/Devil’s Den area. Later this year, UVLT will be working with the Commission to install trailhead parking and trail connections at the new property and decommission a tiny, unsafe access presently located on Route 25.
The land previously belonged to Earl and Elizabeth (Betty) Barrett who'd acquired it from Betty's brother Bob Pierson. Betty Pierson and Earl Barrett grew up in Bradford and Fairlee respectively. Though they lived all over the world during their 62 happy years of marriage, their Upper Valley roots and local family connections remained deep. Their children explained that their parents had hoped the land would remain undeveloped in perpetuity. "A sale to UVLT made perfect sense and will make enjoying the land possible for generations of Vermonters to come."
The parcel will be known as the Earl and Elizabeth Barrett Conservation Area.
UVLT Conservation Project Manager Craig Privett says that conserving the parcel protects water quality and contributes to the integrity of a large block of conserved forest land. There are steep slopes, exposed rock ledge, and mixed wood forest stands that primarily consist of hemlock, white pine, red spruce, and balsam fir. Two direct tributaries of the Waits River descend the south facing slopes to feed the Town of Bradford’s aquifer. Riverine wetlands are associated with these streams. The land is ranked as having high resiliency, biodiversity and connectivity.
The Wrights Mountain summit was acquired and conserved by the Town of Bradford nearly 31 years ago. Once appreciated primarily for the recreational trail and wonderful view from the top of the mountain, over time the addition of adjacent tracts has created an ecologically significant area stretching almost two miles from north to south. Today, the Wrights Mountain/Devils Den area is for people and nature, protecting many species of plants, animals, birds and aquatic life.
UVLT is a non‐profit land conservancy that works in 45 Vermont and New Hampshire towns in the Connecticut River watershed, providing conservation leadership and supporting communities and landowners to realize their conservation goals. Founded by Upper Valley residents in 1985, UVLT has conserved more than 56,000 acres of land. These include working farms, forested ridges, wildlife habitat, water resources, trails and scenic landscapes. Much conserved land remains in private ownership, protected by permanent deeds known as conservation easements. In addition, UVLT owns and manages more than 30 Conservation Areas.
Funding for UVLT’s acquisition was awarded by the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board and the Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program of the Nature Conservancy. The Bradford Conservation Commission will be contributing to the stewardship endowment.