Our Five Year Plan

In 2024, the Dudley Conservation Land Trust worked with an external consultant from the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition to develop a five-year strategic plan. Since reactivating our organization in 2004 after a period of dormancy, we have focused on protecting critical open space, caring for the lands already in our stewardship, and strengthening connections with the community. Our ability to achieve these goals rests on a sound financial base and strong organizational leadership at all levels. These priorities are reflected in the goals outlined in our Five-Year Strategic Plan and guide our work as we look toward the future.

Land Acquisition

Our top current land acquisition priority is the continued expansion of the wildlife corridor in northeast Dudley and west Oxford. This corridor protects important habitat, connects existing sanctuaries, and creates new opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors

Recently, we purchased the property now known as the Kulisa-Tierney Preserve, which forms the northernmost boundary of a large wildlife corridor. In 2025, we acquired the Antos Farm—agricultural land surrounding an 1830s front-gabled, slate-roofed farmhouse—and the Perron House—a similarly historic post and beam cape along with an adjacent lot. Together, these properties serve to connect this conservation area in a significant wildlife corridor in conjunction with Mass Audubon and other conservation areas nearby. In addition to these two properties, the wildlife corridor also includes our Slater Woods Sanctuary and Mass Audubon’s Pierpont Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary and Oxford Woodlands.

There are other opportunities in this area we are pursuing, which may extend the corridor in the future. DCLT is partnering with Mass Audubon on a Conservation Restriction which will preserve these assets for future generations as open space. Our Gofundme.com campaign helps to support our land acquisition projects.

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Land Stewardship

Caring for the land we protect is at the heart of our mission. Every property we own has a dedicated land steward who improves and maintains trails, checks boundary lines, and protects its property values.

We have developed a five-year stewardship plan for each sanctuary (with the exception of our newest properties—Antos Farm and Perron House), with current priorities that include:

• Creating new trails that connect sanctuaries within the northeast wildlife corridor
• Developing both short- and long-term stewardship budgets
• Identifying grant opportunities to support ongoing maintenance and improvements
• Establishing a succession plan for our volunteer stewards

We have also welcomed new stewards for Antos Farm, Perron House, and Leovich Landing, helping to ensure these special places receive the attention and care they deserve.

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Public and Partner Engagement

Building strong relationships with our community and partners is essential to long-term conservation success. Current efforts include:

• An active hiking club with quarterly outings
• Additional stewardship days at our sanctuaries, open to all interested volunteers
• New website launch in 2026 with additional features
• Free children’s programming
• The return of our conservation lecture series in 2026
• Ongoing collaboration with the Town of Dudley to identify future beautification projects

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Fundraising and Administration

To support our conservation goals, we are strengthening our organizational foundation and expanding our fundraising efforts. Current initiatives include:

• A capital campaign to support priority land acquisitions
• A business sponsorship initiative to involve local businesses in land conservation efforts
• Implementing a new legacy giving program
• Expanding our volunteer base at all levels of the organization
• Updated bylaws to strengthen governance, including adjustments to board size, term limits, and leadership succession

Together, these projects and priorities will help ensure that our community’s natural lands are protected, cared for, and enjoyed for generations to come.