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View of Jug End from Baldwin Hill, looking south
View of Jug End from Baldwin Hill, looking south

2024 Newsletter

Mid-August Update from Alexis Wreden
Bow Wow Woods Update
Bird Walk at Jug End 2024...

ELT’s annual meeting at French Park Sept. 7, 2024

On September 7, 2024, ELT’s annual meeting was held at French Park, North Egremont. Tom Tyning, field biologist and environmental scientist, presented “Frogs and Snakes are Fascinating”...

Like many other environmental organizations, the Egremont Land Trust was formed in response to a development threat. In 1985, opponents of the development of the old Jug End Resort’s 1100 acres organized Egremont Environmental Action and challenged the developers’ proposal for 605 housing units there.

Eventually, after several years of complicated proceedings, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management and the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, acquired the property and established the Jug End State Reservation and Wildlife Management Area.

Farm on top of Baldwin Hill
Farm on top of Baldwin Hill (click to enlarge)

EEA changed its name in 1998 to the more descriptive Egremont Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We embraced our mission: Recognizing the pressures on land use and also recognizing the rights of individual property owners, we believe that is imperative to preserve and maintain the rural New England character of Egremont for present and future generations.

Pileated woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker

Change is inevitable, and it is ELT’s aim to influence its direction to benefit all members of the community. Our collaborations with Berkshire Natural Resources Council, The Nature Conservancy, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Sheffield Land Trust, MA Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, and other local land trusts help us with our mission.

Tom Ricardi with peregrine falcon
Tom Ricardi with peregrine falcon

Although ELT’s first interest is in preserving land, we take seriously our educational mission. We offer a series of walks and presentations featuring the ecology of Egremont. Our annual September meeting, open to all, includes a wildlife presenter and our business meeting. We send out an annual newsletter.

We support projects with the public school (kindergarten/first grade) in South Egremont, sponsoring special nature courses and helping with the children’s garden.

The Egremont Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Membership and donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Red Trillium
Red Trillium