Land Trust receives gift of land on Greenwich-Stamford town line



A two-acre meadowz adjacent to hundreds of acres of contiguous conservation land in northern Greenwich has been donated to the Greenwich Land Trust as a conservation easement by Susan H. Fisher of Barnhill Road. “The Fisher Easement enhances an extraordinary conservation area by providing a permanent wildlife greenway between open space parcels” said Bill Boysen, president of the Land Trust. “Donating the development rights of the property to the Land Trust is an enduring gift, made possible by a very generous donor who is deeply committed to preserving the rural character and community of her neighborhood.”

Ms. Fisher and her husband Ben, who died in 9/11 purchased their farmhouse and land 32 years ago. At the time, the Fishers were able to buy the house and part of the land around it, and a neighbor bought the two-acre meadow adjacent to the Fisher’s home. Two years ago Ms. Fisher bought this piece back and was able to place an easement on the land to protect it from development – something she has desired for a long time.

Ms. Fisher, a native of St. James, Long Island, NY witnessed the loss of open space to development throughout her childhood. Locally, she and her husband watched the subdivision of his family farmland. These events prompted the Fishers to become conservation advocates and promote the Land Trust’s 1999 “Save the Field” campaign. The Land Trust acquired Sabine Farm Field as a result of this effort and protected one of the last remnants of the Fisher family farm, which is now one of the most recognizable vistas in all of Greenwich.

The Greenwich Land Trust is the primary holder of the 2-acre conservation easement and is responsible for ensuring that environmental values stay intact. The land protected by the conservation easement includes an area of forest; an open meadow bordered by stonewalls on two sides and a small barn. The easement provides for the continued use of the field for grazing (it serves as the winter pasture for the horses seen grazing at Sabine Farm Field) and the right to restore or replace the small barn.

Ms. Fisher’s home and property are a true sanctuary. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of state park and water company land and far from any major road, the hum of insects is distinct. The entire area was once farmland and the nearby roads are dotted with old farm buildings, including Ms. Fisher’s home which was originally a barn. She would love to see an historic district created to preserve the old farm buildings, property and history.

“This has been the final stage in completing our vision for the property. The original stonework and landscaping has been restored and the permanent protection of the meadow means that future generations will be able to enjoy this pastoral view as we have,” said Ms Fisher. “Working with the Greenwich Land Trust throughout the easement process was straightforward and efficient.”

Ms. Fisher is one of thousands of conservationists nationwide who are benefiting from enhanced tax incentives for conservation easement donations. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (which expires on December 31, 2007) allows an individual to deduct up to 50% of the individual’s adjusted gross income (AGI) and allows the individual to carry forward the unused amount for 15 years. To learn more visit the Greenwich Land Trust’s website: www.gltrust.org.

The 2-acre easement serves as an important wildlife corridor between hundreds of acres of protected land. Photo of Conservation Easement: The Greenwich Land Trust is the primary holder of the 2-acre conservation easement and is responsible for ongoing stewardship of the preserve’s forested area and open meadow.




CASES FOR OPEN SPACES


In passing land to your heirs, it may be more financially beneficial to them to have some or all of your open land donated to a land conservation organization such as The Greenwich Land Trust, Nature Conservancy, The GRTA and The Aububon. Inheritance taxes are substantial. In order to pay them, often heirs of large properties have it subdivided and sold off as separate lots for future development - thereby losing important open space forever. The various legal, real estate, etc. costs involved in doing a subdivision coupled with the huge inheritance taxes could result in less net gain for your heirs than if some or all of the open space were donated to a conservation organization and the resulting tax benefits were applied. As each individual's financial situation is different, you and your heirs should seek the advice of an estate tax professional (not a real estate lawyer or broker who would benefit from developing your property ) in order to minimize taxes and maximize the benefits passed on to your heirs and your community.

Please read the article in Networker for more information on this subject.



THE GRTA ACQUIRES THE NICHOLS PRESERVE

We are pleased to report that we now own the Nichols Preserve which is located at the end of West Avenue, off Bedford Road and straddles the CT-NY border in the northwest corner of Greenwich. The acquisition of this 92 acre preserve from the Nature Conservancy has been the works for several years.

Owning land is a first for GRTA and we are all very excited about this change. It is a fantastic addition to our own a trail system and more importantly, it ensures the existance of open space in our town and allows us to do our part in maintaining some of the finest green open space in the back country.

This spectactular place carries a rich history dating back to when the Siwanoy tribe of the Wappinger Indian Confederacy occupied the land prior to the arrival of the first Europeans in the area. It was farmed from the early 1700's until the last half of the 19th century, producing hay, apples and potatoes . Mr Herbert Nichols, Sr. bought the property in 1908 and in 1910 he and his son, Herbert Nichols, Jr. were responsible for digging the ponds and planting many of the trees.

Mr Nichols always intended to have visitors year around. The preserve is open for hiking, jogging, horseback riding, fishing and cross-country skiing. It is a beautiful composite of meadows, ponds, forest and a red maple swamp. The large ponds are dotted with small picturesque islands and bordered by wonderful trails which wind through the fields and forest, looping back to the ponds so that it is possible to ride or walk for hours without repeating the same course. The meadows, with over a thousand varieties of wild flowers planted by the Nichols, are spectacular to see in the late summer.







For more information please email thegrta@thegrta.org