The Bush Hill Town Forest was purchased in 2004 by the Town of Ashburnham and carries a Conservation Restriction held by the State. It took over two years for the Conservation Commission, the State and the Ashburnham Conservation Trust to complete the sale.

 

The funds came from the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant, the Federal Forest Legacy Program, the SelfHelp Program, ACT and a generous donor. In order to satisfy the terms of Self-Help Grants the town had to borrow money until it was reimbursed by the State. In order to prevent the tax payers from incurring any cost, ACT paid $20,000 for the interest on the loan, because of a nearly two year delay by the State. In 2005 another Federal Forest Legacy Grant provided money to protect another 220± acres in both Winchendon and Ashburnham. Following that deal the town of Rindge, NH preserved 200 acres abutting Bush Hill to the north. Twenty five acres of a historic Shaker Settlement was also donated by a private citizen.

 

Soon thereafter the LeVaux family donated a CR on 125 acres that lies within the Town Forest. This donation was used as match money that was applied to two other protection projects. This year all of the LeVaux land went on the market and we are in negotiations with the estate to purchase it.

 

ACT continues to maintain the trail system and is in the process of expanding the borders with the addition of 134 acres referenced above, that lies at the heart of the Town Forest. 

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It is a great three mile loop trail, but it needs frequent grooming. Care to help us keep it open?