Great Barrington — Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) has conserved 66 acres of woodland on the western slope of Three Mile Hill in Great Barrington, enhancing the region’s natural beauty and bolstering climate resilience. With generous support from the Nion Robert Thieriot Foundation and private foundations, Mass Audubon, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Acquisitions for Forest Reserves Grants Program, BNRC’s Blue Hill Road property will safeguard vital wildlife habitat and create new opportunities for people to connect with nature.
Mass Audubon contributed $125,000 towards this acquisition through its 30×30 Catalyst Fund, a $75 million private initiative dedicated to accelerating the pace of land conservation in Massachusetts. “The Catalyst Fund is tailor-made to assist with land projects like this,” said Mass Audubon President and CEO David O’Neill. “It was Mass Audubon’s pleasure to work with our partner, BNRC, to secure this property as it exemplifies the goals of the Catalyst Fund, which are to protect Massachusetts’ most bio-diverse, carbon rich lands.”
“The Blue Hill Road property protects critical forest habitat and prevents further fragmentation in an area facing increased development,” said BNRC Assistant Director of Conservation Nick Pitel. “By securing this land, BNRC conserves the ecological health and connectivity of Three Mile Hill for future generations.”
Located next to BNRC’s Thomas and Palmer Brook Reserve, the property is home to diverse natural features, including mountain laurel at higher elevations, quartzite boulders along the ridge line, and the iconic “Whale Rock.” A portion of the land is designated as Critical Natural Landscape and Priority Habitat of Rare Species by Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, emphasizing its ecological importance. The land features rich soils that support healthy forests and is part of an area identified by The Nature Conservancy for recognized biodiversity and as a resilient habitat, better able to adapt to the changing climate. The forest includes multiple species of oak and hickory, tulip poplar, American chestnut, and other native trees, providing essential habitat for wildlife. BNRC’s stewardship plan designates the property as a Forest Reserve, ensuring its biodiversity and role in carbon sequestration are maintained.
With its connection to BNRC’s popular Thomas and Palmer Brook Reserve, the property offers exciting possibilities for expanded recreational access. Eventual plans include a secondary trailhead location to access Whale Rock and the larger trail network at Thomas and Palmer Brook Reserve and providing community engagement and education around forest management and climate adaptation.
“This conservation success reflects BNRC’s mission to care for Berkshire lands, waters, and wildlife while offering more ways for people to connect to the outdoors,” said BNRC President Jenny Hansell. “The Blue Hill Road property expands a key BNRC reserve while protecting important habitat and increases access for nearby communities.”
The forest block along Three Mile Hill is within the Berkshire Wildlife Linkage, a vital corridor in the Berkshire-Taconics landscape of the Appalachian Mountain range that connects the Green Mountains in Vermont to the Hudson Highlands in New York. This regional connectivity is key for wildlife and recreation, supporting BNRC’s goals of ecological resilience and equitable access to nature.
