Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust is a leader in the region in the conservation of open space and in the protection of valuable natural resources. Flanders has identified strategic priorities for land conservation. These were developed in collaboration with town planners and other organizations. Flanders' top three conservation targets are: tracts along rivers and streams, to help protect our community's water supply; farmlands, to preserve and promote local agriculture; and properties that connect or potentially connect, to create swaths of "green belts" that support wildlife habitats.

Flanders became one of the first land trusts in the area in 1973 when it received its initial gift of land, the 6.5-acre Manville Kettle located in the heart of Woodbury. This parcel was the first land held in trust that was not part of the 200-acre Van Vleck Farm, which has served as Flanders' main campus since its founding as a nature center in 1963.

Today, through direct ownership and conservation easements, Flanders manages more than 40 open-space properties totaling nearly 2,000 acres in Woodbury, Bethlehem, Middlebury, and Southbury. These holdings include two popular nature preserves in Woodbury: the 200-acre Van Vleck Farm Sanctuary on Flanders Road, and the 686-acre Whittemore Sanctuary on Route 64.

Recreational Opportunities

Flanders' conservation of open space helps to retain ecological habitats and improves the quality of life for all residents. In addition, many of Flanders' Land Trust properties are open to the public for hiking, cross-country skiiing, nature study, photography, and other forms of passive recreation. Larger parcels offer trail systems, which are open year-round from dawn to dusk at no charge.

Advantages for Donors

The Flanders Land Trust continues to grow through:

• Donations from individual landowners who want to protect natural resources, wildlife, and natural beauty for future generations
• Acquisition of open space
• Donations from subdivisions as part of town open-space requirements

Donating land to a land trust ensures the donor that the parcel will remain in its natural state forever. It also offers significant tax advantages to the donor. Donating land can also be a helpful tool in estate planning to reduce estate taxes.

The first step in making a gift of land to Flanders is to contact Executive Director Arthur Milnor, or a Flanders board member. The Flanders Land Trust Committee works closely with potential donors to ensure that the needs of the donor and goals of the Land Trust are mutually met.

Those who are not able to donate land can support Flanders' Land Trust by making a contribution to Flanders' Open Space Acquisition and Stewardship Fund. This fund is used to maintain Land Trust properties and can also be used to acquire additional properties.

For more information, please contact Arthur Milnor, Executive Director, at 203-263-3711, ext. 13.