SEEKING A SPECIAL PLACE FROM WORCESTER COUNTY THROUGH THE BERKSHIRES
What's Happening with the Search?
As of June 2024, more than one land trust executive director has said, 'I didn't expect this to be so hard." Neither did we.
According to the Green Burial Council, "Conservation burial is . . . natural burial on lands protected by a recognized conservation land trust entity where conservation principles are employed to support sustainable cemetery management practices, while restoring and protecting the ecological integrity of the land."
As we continue our search, Kestrel Land Trust hired Environmental Engineering Consultants, GZA, to create a geographic information system (GIS) search tool to help us find land from Worcester through Berkshire counties that is suitable for human burial. About 10,000 parcels (out of almost 700,000) have shown up with potential for conservation burial. This bulleted list identifies characteristics that were excluded from the search to get down to those 10,000 potential parcels:
The initial 10,000 identified parcels were divided into three tiers ranked from high to low:
1 - 48 parcels; 2 - 2,955; 3 - 7,052. Out of the 10,000 parcels, it is still challenging to identify even 40 properties that might be suitable for conservation burial.
As of June 2024, we are reviewing about 40 parcels with local land trusts. After we understand more about those parcels and the landowners, we will reach out via letter to the each landowner. Ultimately, it is up to a landowner. Is the timing right to let go of their land for conservation burial?
If you're a supporter of a your local land trust, reach out to them and let them know you support this idea of conservation burial.
According to the Green Burial Council, "Conservation burial is . . . natural burial on lands protected by a recognized conservation land trust entity where conservation principles are employed to support sustainable cemetery management practices, while restoring and protecting the ecological integrity of the land."
As we continue our search, Kestrel Land Trust hired Environmental Engineering Consultants, GZA, to create a geographic information system (GIS) search tool to help us find land from Worcester through Berkshire counties that is suitable for human burial. About 10,000 parcels (out of almost 700,000) have shown up with potential for conservation burial. This bulleted list identifies characteristics that were excluded from the search to get down to those 10,000 potential parcels:
- Parcels <20 acres in size (required for GBC certification, which we intend to seek)
- Parcels with <5 acres of suitable soils (A, B, C, D - as identified by a soil scientist)
- Wetland and Stream (100’ buffer distance) Areas
- 200-foot Riverfront Area
- Protected and Recreational OpenSpace: Article 97 lands
- FEMA and Q3 Layers: Zones A and AE
- Slope >3:1 (33.5% slope)
- Wellhead Protection Zones: Zone II, Zone I, IWPA
- Surface Water Supply Protection Areas (ZONE A, B, C)
- 750-feet from Private Wells and Public Water Supplies
- Soil Designations outside of A-D
- Parcels with <50’ of frontage, but preferably with 200
- Parcels abutting highways or commercial area
The initial 10,000 identified parcels were divided into three tiers ranked from high to low:
1 - 48 parcels; 2 - 2,955; 3 - 7,052. Out of the 10,000 parcels, it is still challenging to identify even 40 properties that might be suitable for conservation burial.
As of June 2024, we are reviewing about 40 parcels with local land trusts. After we understand more about those parcels and the landowners, we will reach out via letter to the each landowner. Ultimately, it is up to a landowner. Is the timing right to let go of their land for conservation burial?
If you're a supporter of a your local land trust, reach out to them and let them know you support this idea of conservation burial.
Photo courtesy of Kestrel Land Trust
Land Search
The Connecticut River Valley is blessed with a distinct sense of place providing iconic viewscapes and landscapes. The project partners seek to acquire and conserve a parcel of land in the Connecticut River Valley for the purpose of creating Massachusetts’ first conservation cemetery.
We seek between 30-150 acres with good road frontage, bounded north and south by Route 2 and I-90, and along the I-91 corridor. Land attributes include: a mix of fields and forest, adjacency to conserved land, wildlife connectivity, native habitat protection, and/or with cultural significance.
A property with an inspiring view of the Valley would be a very strong candidate.
Our search has intentionally avoided active farmland sites in order to not restrict productive farmland.
Please contact [email protected] if you own or know of a potentially suitable parcel of land.
We seek between 30-150 acres with good road frontage, bounded north and south by Route 2 and I-90, and along the I-91 corridor. Land attributes include: a mix of fields and forest, adjacency to conserved land, wildlife connectivity, native habitat protection, and/or with cultural significance.
A property with an inspiring view of the Valley would be a very strong candidate.
Our search has intentionally avoided active farmland sites in order to not restrict productive farmland.
Please contact [email protected] if you own or know of a potentially suitable parcel of land.