Wilton Farm to be Enjoyed by Future Generations
CONCORD, N.H., Feb. 4, 2008 — The McGettigan children, nine in total, who were born and raised on a Wilton farm, have donated an 141-acre conservation easement on the property to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (Forest Society). Their donation puts under protection one of Wilton’s oldest farms.
The property has been in the McGettigan family since the late 1890’s. “We all worked the farm growing up together, whether it was milking cows or selling vegetables house to house two days a week,” states Charles McGettigan. “Conserving the property means it will stay like this forever, in its natural beauty. Our parents did not like seeing the development in the area, nor did we, so we all decided that placing a conservation easement on the property was the right thing to do—for us and for the town.”
The parcel includes 20 acres of open land, once used for farming and now used for hay. Old orchards also dot the property. The balance of the land is forested, predominantly with mixed hardwoods and white pine. Its proximity to the Four Corners Farm, also protected, enhances its value for wildlife habitat, including deer, bear, songbirds, and other upland wildlife abundant in the area.
The Wilton Conservation Commission supported the easement and contributed funds to cover the McGettigan’s transaction costs and easement stewardship endowment contribution. The Town will hold executory interest.
A conservation easement allows private landowners to protect land while maintaining ownership. Easements provide permanent protection from land use that could damage or destroy its scenic, recreational, ecological, and natural resource values. As with most other donated conservation easements, this property remains on the local tax rolls, and the landowner retains discretion over access to the property by others. Under the terms of the easement, further development of the property is prohibited.
The McGettigan’s contribution will ensure the continued enjoyment by many local residents who have used the property to enjoy the scenery and outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, hiking, and hunting. “Part of the joy we take from the land is to see people enjoy the property,” added McGettigan.
Founded in 1901, the Forest Society is a 10,000-member, nonprofit organization that has helped protect more than one million acres in New Hampshire. Visit www.forestsociety.org for more information, or call (603) 224-9945.