Santuit Woodlands

4609 Falmouth Road, Cotuit

Background:

Home to nearly six acres of mostly deciduous trees like oak, cherry, maple, beech, occasional holly and pine, the Santuit Woodland property abuts BLT conservation land and sits squarely in the Zone II water protection zone for the Cotuit Water District.

After a proposed 40B development was withdrawn, Barnstable Land Trust worked with the Cotuit Water District and Town of Barnstable Community Development Committee to secure local funding for the purchase, to be matched by a MA Conservation Partnership grant, which was awarded in September. The property will allow for trails from the BLT Servis property on Santuit-Newtown Road to connect through to the new six-acre site. The forested parcel is an effective natural water filter. Land conservation remains the single best way to protect water quality in perpetuity.

Rachel Jones

Conservation Value:

  • The property is a thickly wooded undeveloped lot, and conservation of the parcel will protect the mostly deciduous trees and a vernal pool

  • The land is a connection to existing BLT land to the south

  • The property is a Zone II Wellhead Protection Area

  • The parcel is South of Priority Habitat and BioMap (across Route 28), of Prime 2 Forest and Forest of Statewide Importance and Prime Farmland Soils

  • The parcel is located within the Santuit Historic District

Forever Starts Today

The Santuit Woodlands project is part of a larger initiative that BLT will soon launch – The For Now & Forever Campaign — a $10 million campaign to secure the future of land conservation in Barnstable.

With private, public and foundation support, the campaign will:

  • Conserve five high-priority properties that protect water, wildlife, and community spaces – including the Highground Golf Course

  • Build the Barnstable Forever Fund, an endowment to protect land for generations

  • Invest in land stewardship so our conservation promises are kept in perpetuity

Let’s protect what we love — For Now & Forever.

Learn more and get involved by contacting Janet Milkman or Kelsey Ellis or calling 508-771-2585