Conservation Trust purchase preserves 30-acre parcel in Spencer Brook Valley

A 30-acre stretch of woods and wetlands in Spencer Brook Valley will remain undeveloped, permanently linking two protected areas and expanding one of Acton’s most significant conservation corridors. 

The Acton Land Conservation Trust recently bought the parcel for $2.5 million after years of negotiations, securing land that conservation leaders say has been a top priority for decades. 

Jane Gruba-Chevalier, executive director of the non-profit Trust, said the acquisition fits into a broader, long-standing strategy in the valley.

“This land is within a larger landscape context that the Trust has been conserving for almost 50 years,” she told The Acton Bridge. “This parcel sits between two of our key properties, Newbury Field to the north and Hollenbeck to the south, and expands the ecological corridor as well as recreational access.”

The property lies along Spencer Brook, which runs from Carlisle to the Assabet River. 

‘Like you’re in the wild’

Polly Reeve, chair of the Acton Land Conservation Trust, said the parcel’s size and ecological value made it especially important. 

“It’s one of the larger pieces of underdeveloped open space in town and in a critical area for conservation,” she said in an interview. “When you’re there, you feel like you’re in the wild; you have no idea you’re just miles from Boston.”

Gruba-Chevalier said that by linking the two existing conservation areas, the newly protected land creates a more connected habitat zone that supports wildlife movement and biodiversity. It also strengthens the town’s trail network.

“If we had lost it, we would have ended up with two really nice short walks,” Reeve said. “This makes a real difference to the whole network of trails, for humans and for our wild friends who are out there.”

She said conservation projects depend heavily on timing and the willingness of landowners. 

“It’s been on our priority list literally for decades,” Reeve said. “You have to work with a willing seller and wait until the time is right.”

The land trust bought the new 30-acre tract from an LLC controlled by Cambridge resident Karl Bandtel, real estate records show.

To complete the acquisition, the Trust launched a $2.8 million fundraising campaign. The goal covered the $2.5 million land purchase price and the future construction of a boardwalk that will enable residents to cross Spencer Brook and travel continuously throughout the property.

The campaign drew support from hundreds of donors, with contributions ranging from $25 to much larger amounts that helped the Trust meet its fundraising goal early this year.

“The community responded so generously,” Reeve said. “It really showed how much people value protecting open space in Acton.”

Acton resident and biologist Inge Knudson, who isn’t affiliated with the Trust, said the protected parcel benefits both wildlife habitat and the region’s connected open-space network. 

“It’s a vital piece in the network of connecting fields, wetlands, and forest between Acton and Carlisle,” Knudson said. “It encourages genetic diversity in wildlife populations, helps control invasive plant species, and allows for wonderful long walks in nature for all of us. The [Trust] has a long record of being good stewards of the land.”

Under Trust ownership, the land will remain permanently open to the public for low-impact recreation.

Gruba-Chevalier said the acquisition reflects Acton’s time-tested conservation culture and the role residents play in protecting local open space.

“It was all of us that worked together to save this land,” she said. “Now we have a responsibility to take care of it forever.”

Dakota Antelman contributed reporting.

Eric Hine is a student at Endicott College studying journalism. This story was written in partnership with the Massachusetts News Service.