The Greenwich Land Trust actively works with landowners and local residents to preserve and protect open space. Learn more about the land donation process.

Our goal is to build greenways throughout the community which provide extended and continuous open space while protecting waterways, woodlands and open meadows. There are two ways that the GLT can protect land permanently:
          •  Ownership of the land
          •  Ownership of the development rights (known as Conservation Easements) 

Agnew Apple Orchard.

Land Ownership
Most of the Greenwich Land Trust properties have been generously donated by landowners through outright donations.  Shell Island was given to the GLT in 1990 by owner Julius Silver to protect the island from development forever. The Westfall Preserve, a 51-acre property next to the Town's Babcock Preserve, was donated to the GLT in 1989 by the Baker-Patterson family. This donation extended a significant greenway in mid-Greenwich providing additional wildlife habitat and protecting trees and streams from new development.

White Birch Farm Conservation Easement		The Greene Preserve

In addition to the satisfaction of protecting open space in perpetuity,
donors may receive substantial income, estate and property tax benefits from their gift. The magnitude of the tax benefits depends upon the nature of the gift, the size of the property and the donor's personal tax situation.  The GLT is available to assist in formulating the questions that should be posed to personal advisors as well as to discuss the specifics of donating land.

Conservation Easements
(Ownership of Development Rights)
A conservation easement is a legal agreement between the GLT and a landowner to protect property from future development.  Landowners who give easements retain land ownership but release certain development rights in exchange for protecting their land and receiving tax benefits.  The GLT can advise on how to tailor a conservation easement based on an individual landowner's needs and desires.

Susan Fisher has donated conservation easements on 5 acres of her beautiful property which neighbors a large state-owned conservation tract. Mrs. Fisher wanted to protect her meadows and woodlands from future development while retaining ownership and the rights to use the land for grazing and passive recreation. With this easement donation, Mrs. Fisher received substantial tax benefits along with the permanent protection of her property.

Fund-raising Campaigns to Purchase Land or Easements:
When large tracts of land have become available, the GLT has partnered with the Town of Greenwich or other conservation groups or neighbors to acquire and preserve the open space. Funds are raised and then donated specifically to the GLT to purchase an identified property by the group or with the partner. The 94-acre Treetops Preserve, now part of the Mianus River Park, was protected through such a collaboration, with the GLT now one of several conservation easement holders. On a smaller scale, Fisher Field at Sabine Farm was acquired through the cooperation of the Fisher family and the efforts of a determined neighborhood group who did not want to see this scenic pasture turned into housing sites. As a result, the GLT was able to acquire and protect the land at a price significantly below market value.

For specific information on how to donate land or a conservation easement, please contact Ginny Gwynn, Executive Director, at 203.629.2151.