Duxbury Land Trust Newsletter – Fall 2010
Conserving Additional Land Along Ridley Brook
Several Years ago, the Cook family approached the Duxbury Land Trust (DLT) because they wanted to conserve their Ridley Brook property. With the help of a Vermont Housing and Conservation (VHCB) grant awarded to the DLT in June, the Cooks’ wish may be realized next spring. This acquisition is in keeping with the Land Trust’s focus on conserving riparian resources along the Winooski River and its tributaries. Purchasing this land will increase Ridley Brook conserved land to more than twenty-nine acres.
Adjacent to DLT-owned land located at the corner of Camel’s Hump and Scrabble Hill Roads, the 13 acre Cook property is bordered by approximately 1000 feet of frontage on the Ridley Brook in North Duxbury. The property features a spectacular waterfall, two balancing rocks, and a mature hemlock – hardwood northern forest. It supports a variety of wildlife and provides recreational opportunities such as fishing, swimming, and even kayaking.
This project is being made possible by the Cooks’ generosity through a bargain sale and the $20,000 VHCB grant. In addition, the VHCB awarded $6,000 to the Vermont Land Trust to fund stewardship and monitoring of the conservation easement, ensuring that the property will be conserved in perpetuity.
Stowe Street Ars Festival
The Duxbury Land Trust Development Committee spent several weeks making Adirondack chairs to raise money for the Cook Property purchase. With the help of Don Welch and Jim McCarthy four chairs were cut out and readied for finishing. Catherine Gjessing set to work creating a decoupage of area scenes including Camel’s Hump. The decoupage chair was truly a masterpiece and was raffled off at the Arts Festival on July 17th. Along with three other chairs that were sold, all made by board members, the DLT raised nearly $600.
Audrey Quackenbush and Rose Comyns enjoyed the day selling raffle tickets and handing out DLT brochures. Special thanks go to the Revitalize Waterbury team and to Representative Tom Stevens for his announcements and support. Thanks also to those who bid on Catherine’s chair, and congratulations to the winner!
