White Property, Upton and Mendon

On December 18, 2025, SVT purchased the 108-acre White Property that spans the Upton-Mendon town line at the southwestern tip of our region. This is the 96th conservation area we have acquired in our history.

With stands of oak and pine hardwood trees as well as with wetlands that contain highbush blueberry, arrowwood, and sweet pepperbush, this wonderfully diverse landscape 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 property is not currently open to the public, but SVT staff members expect to lead group walks on the land after we compile our management plan and create a trail.

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.

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 the project.

Why Protect This Land?

This property that spans the Upton-Mendon line is a large forested parcel with significant wetlands and wildlife habitat value. Two stands of trees cover the majority of the property. One is white pine-hardwoods with red oak, black birch, yellow birch, and white oak. The other is oak-hardwoods with red oak, black birch, and yellow birch. There are some nice quality wetlands along a perennial stream and a small shrub swamp that features highbush blueberry, arrowwood, and sweet pepperbush.

SVT rated the land 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.”

Climate flow refers to the gradual movement of wildlife 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.

How We Protected This Land

In December 2025, SVT purchased the land from Emerson and Beverly White.

Mass Audubon's 30x30 Catalyst Fund provided a $108,000 grant to assist with the purchase price. SVT also thanks the Family of George and Doris Meyers for its financial support of the project.