28-04-2025
Conservation group buys 109 acres in Berkshire County
TYRINGHAM, Mass. (WWLP) – A Berkshire County conservation organization has purchased property to protect lands near Beartown State Forest and the Appalachian Trail.
Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) has acquired 109 acres along both sides of Webster Road in Tyringham. It will be protected with conservation restrictions held by BNRC and New England Forestry Foundation. It is within a half mile of the Appalachian Trail and abuts the Beartown State Forest.
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By adding to these protected lands, BNRC strengthens a network of conserved forests in Tyringham, Otis, and Becket that are crucial for biodiversity, wildlife movement, and climate resilience. Currently, there are no plans to create trails on the property, but it will remain open for passive recreation.
'This land features a remarkable mix of hardwood forest species, hemlock stands, and wetlands, including the headwaters of Merry Brook, a designated cold-water fishery important to native brook trout,' said Nick Pitel, BNRC's Director of Conservation. 'We are thrilled to continue to advance conservation in this ecologically rich area, protecting it from development and preserving habitat for rare species.'
'This property sits at the heart of a significant conservation landscape and exemplifies the goals of the Catalyst Fund, which prioritizes biodiversity and climate resiliency. We are very pleased to be able to support BNRC's land conservation work in the Southern Berkshires,' said David O'Neill, Mass Audubon's President.
The land was purchased for $650,000 and funded by the Nion Robert Thieriot Foundation, Mass Audubon Catalyst for Conservation, the Wyncote Foundation, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Land Acquisition for Forest Reserves Grant Program, and private donors.
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