We are a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 2012 by a group of Needham residents with a shared interest in preserving and protecting open space and supporting native wildlife, trees and plants in the Town of Needham.
Our mission is to enhance Needham’s unique scenic, historic, and natural character by helping to increase its portfolio of undeveloped conservation land. In addition, we hope to increase public appreciation of how open space preservation benefits the quality of life enjoyed by every resident of the Town.
To promote the conservation and preservation of open space, public recreation, natural, scenic, and historic sites or structures, the Trust holds and, when necessary, enforces conservation restrictions on land owned by the Town or private landowners. A conservation restriction is an agreement under which the landowner promises to limit the type or amount of development on the property subject to restriction.
In 2015, we successfully negotiated and now hold two conservation restrictions on Town-owned land, one of which protects nearly five acres spanning two contiguous undeveloped lots on Carol Road and Brewster Road. Our other conservation restriction protects 1.7 acres of land on Charles River Street, including the recreational field.
For many landowners, there may be significant tax benefits gained by placing conservation restrictions on their land or donating or selling land to the Town for conservation purposes. We are happy to provide Needham landowners with further information about ways to preserve undeveloped land in its current state. Please contact us at needhamlandtrust@gmail.com
The Needham Land Trust is a member of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition.