background and history
In 1955, twelve founders, who understood that the sprawl of suburban development after World War II would put immense pressures on semi-rural towns like Weston, founded Weston Forest & Trail Association. For many years, the heart of the organization was the late Dr. William Elliston, physician, gentleman farmer and amateur naturalist. A part of the conservation land, Elliston Woods, is named in his honor.
The legacy of the organization’s leaders is heightened awareness and education, as well as implementation of creative methods for saving open space and more ecologically sound development practices. In the 1961 Annual Report of the Weston Forest & Trail Association, the organization stated:
“In spite of tremendous developments west of Boston, there seems a reasonable prospect that the town will be able to preserve some of the characteristics of a green area as an attractive section in which to live.”
Since then the organization has been involved in negotiations and solicitation of conservation easements on more than 50 parcels of land. WF&TA volunteer leader personally shepherded gifts and below-market purchases of easements and grants of land to link up the various larger parcels of the Town forest. They also have assumed responsibility for assuring the observance of conservation restrictions and easements. Today the Weston Forest & Trail Association owns 186 acres, and there is more than 2000 acres of town or conservation land and there are approximately 100 miles of trails. There remains a few hundred acres of undeveloped land in Weston. Weston Forest & Trail Association takes an active role in monitoring the status of this land – following building proposals and negotiating preservation tracts and easements. WF&TA’s continued work is to maintain the rural character and natural beauty of the Town and promote the recreational value, active and
passive, of the trails and open space. |
