APR Assistance

Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) for school farm program and high priority conservation area.

CLIENT | The Hartsbrook School and the Town of Hadley
LOCATION | Hadley, MA
DATE | 2013

Conservation Works partnered with The Hartsbrook School and the town of Hadley to secure an Agricultural Preservation Restriction for 39 acres of land gifted to the school by a generous donor family. The permanently protected hay and vegetable fields are part of the school’s farm and agricultural arts education program, and provide a dynamic setting in which the arts and the environment are utilized as focal points for learning. The property is also adjacent to the Fort River and the Holyoke Range, two areas of high priority for conservation. With many nearby acres already under protection, this donation helped expand an important corridor for wildlife between the river and the range.

Services Provided

Agricultural Preservation Restrictions

Helping landowners work with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to complete APR applications, assemble supporting material, obtain funding assistance, and make the case for approval to local town boards and committees, and the state Agricultural Lands Preservation Committee.

Open Space & Recreation Planning

Assisting land trusts and municipalities with a wide variety of services including helping set acquisition and protection priorities, identifying possible funding sources, completing land management plans, assisting in complying with applicable laws and regulations, monitoring properties, inventorying birds, wildlife, flora, and other natural resources, and volunteer stewardship coordination and training.

Our work includes the preparation of municipal Open Space and Recreation Plans that provide meaningful long-range planning for land protection and management, and meet state requirements.

Agricultural & Food Systems Planning

Helping communities build relationships with local farmers to better understand their needs and opportunities to support local farms and increase access to local food. This typically includes the collection of local data to develop a profile of existing agriculture and facilitated community engagement to guide volunteers through a process that results in an informed action plan.