A Growing Constellation of Protected Lands in Northfield
Across the town of Northfield, a constellation of protected lands is taking shape — one that builds upon an already robust patchwork of permanently conserved land. From cold-water streams fed with fresh snowmelt to forested hillsides speckled with granite outcroppings, the diversity of these properties is remarkable. But what makes these lands so important?
The answer isn’t found in any single parcel, but in the relationships between them—and the way they connect to form something greater.
“The connections aren’t always visible on a map, but they’re written into the movement of wildlife, the flow of water, and the continuity of forest,” says Emma Ellsworth, Executive Director at Mount Grace. “I often think of a bobcat moving through a landscape, a wild neighbor that doesn’t recognize property lines. It follows forest cover, water, and food—moving from one protected parcel to the next. Every conserved forest, farm, and wetland adds another piece to a connected landscape that supports wildlife, protects clean water, and helps communities thrive in a changing climate.”
The connections aren’t always visible on a map, but they’re written into the movement of wildlife, the flow of water, and the continuity of forest.” — Emma Ellsworth, Executive Director.
Along Old Wendell Road, a small but beloved 10-acre parcel—home to the locally admired Hobo Falls—has been protected by Mount Grace and is now owned by the town. A short walk to the north, the Herlihy-Zimmerman project—a roughly 80-acre conservation restriction—will add another layer of protection to the landscape surrounding the New England National Scenic Trail. The project helps preserve the experience of hiking this iconic route while extending a corridor of uninterrupted habitat around it.
After crossing Gulf Road and heading west toward Richardson Overlook—one of our most visited scenic vistas—you’ll soon arrive at Millers Brook, where we are developing a cornerstone project within this emerging network. Spanning a few hundred acres along the Brook, this private land, when conserved, will protect a vital cold-water fishery and expands an already extensive block of conserved forestland.
Further South in town, Mount Grace is protecting two parcels along Four Mile Brook, which flows directly into the Connecticut River. Together totaling roughly 90 acres, this land will remain “forever wild,” with natural processes guiding the future of the forest. These protected stream corridors play an essential role in maintaining water quality and supporting downstream ecosystems.
Additional projects—including 102 acres near Richardson Overlook—are in earlier stages, but will further strengthen this growing network of conserved land.
Taken together, these efforts highlight the importance of a landscape-scale approach to conservation. As Mount Grace works alongside deedholders, the town, and community partners, Northfield is becoming a model for how strategic land protection can knit together a durable and thriving ecological landscape for generations to come.