My Backyard

Donor David W. Parfitt (left) and Attleboro Land Trust President Ted Leach shake hands following the signing of a deed by Parfitt donating 5.5 acres of land in South Attleboro to the Attleboro Land Trust.  Standing are Jim Lewis (left) who provided pro bono legal services to the land trust and Charlie Adler (right), a member of the land trust.  (photo by Dale Richter)

The Attleboro Land Trust is pleased to announce that it has received a donation of conservation land from David W. Parfitt. Mr. Parfitt has donated 5.5 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to the Anthony Lawrence Wildlife Preserve off Hope Avenue in South Attleboro.  This gift brings the total area of conservation land owned and managed by the Attleboro Land Trust to over 275 acres.

View of the David W. Parfitt Nature Preserve, with blue flag iris in the foreground. (photo by Charlie Adler)

With this generous gift, the land trust will be able to protect the entirety of a pristine open wetland that borders the Seven Mile River near the Hill Roberts School.  Some varieties of native plant and animal life recently observed on the property are deer, snapping turtles, red-winged blackbirds, cattails, and blue flag iris.

Red-winged blackbird perched in a tree on the David W. Parfitt Nature Preserve (photo by Charlie Adler)

The Attleboro Land Trust is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 to protect open space for the community of Attleboro-through advocacy, education, and the acquisition and management of conservation land. To carry out its work, the trust relies on the efforts of a dedicated board, participation by members and volunteers, corporate support, and foundation grants. 

Snapping turtle burrows into the mud along Tannery Brook on the David W. Parfitt Nature Preserve. (photo by Charlie Adler)

The land trust welcomes inquiries from anyone interested in donating land to the organization.  Not every offer is accepted; each acquisition must be compatible with the long term goals of the land trust, which include the protection of wildlife habitat, providing space for passive recreation, and protection of water resources. 

Mr. Parfitt shared some recollections of the property, which has been in his family for generations.  His great uncle Archibald Boyd once owned the property and harvested the marsh grass for use at his farm in North Attleboro.  As a young man, Mr. Parfitt helped with the harvest, which was done by hand with scythes.  After the grass was cut and raked into rows, the men would load the marsh grass into wagons.  No machinery was used, and the marsh was too soft for horses.  For refreshment, a mixture of hard cider and eggnog was ladled from a bucket.

Many land trust properties have public hiking trails.  Clean-ups are held in the spring and fall.  The land trust welcomes new members interested in helping to further its mission.                                                             

For more about the trust, including trail maps, visit www.attleborolandtrust.org.

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