SVT Acquires 108 Acres in Upton & Mendon

SVT has acquired our 96th conservation area!

On December 18, we purchased a 108-acre property that spans the Upton-Mendon town line at the southwestern tip of our region. Our acquisition of this property, which we have named Miscoe Woods, will permanently protect a wonderfully diverse landscape.

With its stands of oak and pine hardwood trees and with its wetlands containing highbush blueberry, arrowwood, and sweet pepperbush, the parcel offers high-quality habitat for numerous species. Birds such as wood thrush, ovenbird, scarlet tanager, northern parula, black-and-white warbler, and red-shouldered hawk have all been seen or heard at the property, offering further testament to the land’s habitat value.

“The diversity of habitats on the property make this a great acquisition for SVT,” said Tony Scibelli, SVT’s Land Protection Specialist who managed the project. “SVT rated it as having a high value for biodiversity, and The Nature Conservancy also rated this land as having ‘Recognized Biodiversity Value’ and for ‘Above Average’ and ‘Far Above Average’ Climate Flow.”

Tony added that “Climate flow refers to the gradual movement of populations in response to changes in climate. As plant and animal species re-locate in response to temperature changes and habitat loss, properties with good climate flow offer them a place to channel through or accumulate as they seek new habitat locations. We must protect parcels like this if we want our native species to survive.” Miscoe Woods is one of the 10 largest parcels that SVT has ever acquired, and our Stewardship staff looks forward to managing the landscape.

Laura Mattei, SVT Director of Conservation, commented, “Even though we cannot currently open this property to the public, we are excited about this important acquisition. The land is a wonderful refuge for wildlife and we are grateful for the opportunity to protect its important conservation values. When the private landowners offered to subdivide their property in order to sell this 108-acre parcel for conservation, we were eager to act.”

SVT will lead walks at Miscoe Woods after we develop a management plan for the property and create a trail.

SVT is grateful to the Mass Audubon 30x30 Catalyst Fund for supporting this purchase with a $108,000 grant. We also thank the Family of George and Doris Meyers for its financial support of this project.

Thank you to the landowners, Emerson and Beverly White, for conserving this land and its wildlife habitats, and to officials in the Towns of Upton and Mendon for their assistance on this project.