Stow Conservation Lands

The Town Forest, also known as Gardner Hill Land was purchased by the Town in 1972 with assistance from the state under the self-help program. This land is part of the C.D. Fletcher estate and boasts several miles of walking and cross-country ski trails. The Elizabeth Brook runs along the northern edge of the land and is a popular fishing stream. The land extends out to the Assabet River. A parking area at the end of Bradley Lane makes the land easily accessible.

Marble Hill Natural Area was purchased by the Town in 1977 with assistance from the state under the self-help program. The land was put together from several parcels by private initiative and is one of the most popular of the Stow recreation lands. Several miles of trails are available for walking or cross-country skiing. A Life Course was established to encourage exercising. Pompositticut School provides parking adjacent to the south entrance to Marble Hill and a small turnoff is available on Taylor Road at the north entrance.

The Captain Sargent Farm (Babricki Land) was purchased by the Town in 1981 with assistance from the state under the self-help program. This land has been in agricultural use since the 1700's and was purchased from the estate of Mr. Babricki, the last farmer to own the land. During the American Revolution it was owned by the family of Nathaniel Sargent, whose name it bears today. A parking lot was cut into the northeast section of the land in 1994 and has encouraged use of the land. Much of the southern section is in use for agriculture, but the public may use the edges of these fields.

The Heath Hen Meadow Woodlands (not specifically identified on the attached map) was a part of Shelburne Farm. This land was split off in 1997 and purchased by the Town with Self-Help funds. The woods feature several trails and can be used for hiking or cross-country skiing.

The Flagg Hill Conservation Land(FHCA) consists of 286 acres acquired and protected by the people of Stow and Boxborough in 1998 to serve as critical wildlife habitat and natural ecosystem.Vernal pools, stands of white pine, abandoned orchards with birdhouse nesting opportunities represent some of the diverse aspects of FHCA. Visitors can view the parallel stone walls adjacent to the main trail and hazard a guess as to their purpose, as research continues on such Flagg Hill artifacts.

Local funding approved at town meetings in both towns was supplemented by foundation grants and donations from hundreds of citizens to purchase the property.Stow access to FHCL is from the designated parking area on West Acton Road; use regulations are posted. Enjoy the trails for walking, nature study, jogging, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing.

The Spindle Hill land (not specifically identified on the map) includes the top of Spindle Hill and is accessible from either Wheeler Road or Gates Lane. The Wheeler Road access was purchased by the Sudbury Valley Trust with assistance from the Stow Conservation Trust. Spindle Hill is so named because the hill was covered with Dogwood trees when the local mills were in their prime. Dogwood is a hard wood that was used for making spindles for the mills.

Stow Agricultural and Forest Lands

Chapter 61 and 61A allow the farmer to obtain a tax abatement on land used for agricultural or forestry purposes. This is necessary in order to make agricultural operations sufficiently close to being profitable to encourage them to continue. The Assessors may require proof of continuation of the existing use. In return for abatement of taxes, the Town holds certain rights over the land designed to ensure continuation of current use. In particular, if the use of the land is changed, the Town may demand payment of a portion of the abated taxes and in addition has a 120 day option to purchase the land at fair market value.

These lands are not public lands, and the associated map is provided solely for informational purposes to show the extent of agriculture in Stow.

Stow Water Resource Protection District

The Water Resource Protection District prohibits certain land uses which would degrade the quality of the groundwater resources. In particular, land uses involving hazardous materials are prohibited. Septic systems are permitted, but are limited to 110 gallons per day per 10,000 square feet (considered sufficient for single-family residential use). Mining is prohibited, as is making more than 10% of the land area impervious (which limits groundwater recharge).

The Water Resource Protection District is based on studies of the groundwater potential of the Town. These studies were performed in 1976 by IEP and are the basis for much of the evaluation of water resources in Stow. The specific areas on the map are areas with high ground water potential, which is based on the thickness of the aquifer and the permeability of the soils. The long blue region on the eastern edge of Stow is one of the primary aquifers flowing through the Town. The direction of flow is toward the south, opposite the surface flow direction of the Assabet river. Another aquifer flows from the northwest corner of Stow towards the Hudson border.

Stow's Agricultural Heritage

Throughout the western suburbs, land is thought of as a commodity--something to sell, buy, and build on. One of the great things about Stow is that for many residents, land is not just something to put a house on, but something to tend--respectfully--as a source of livelihood. And while Stow is now probably just as well known for golf as farming, much of the town's agricultural heritage is still with us, in everything from large picturesque farms and orchards, to the signs posted in front yards offering eggs, grapes, vegetables, and hay for sale.

These days, the financial pressures to develop farmland are strong, and a number of state programs have been designed to assist farmers in keeping their land in agricultural production. Chapter 61 allows a landowner with a certain number of acres of woods or farmland to pay a lower property tax on the land in exchange for not developing it, and for giving the town first crack at buying the property if he or she decides to sell. When a farm is sold, the state's Agricultural Preservation Restriction program may pay the seller the difference in price between the farm's value as agricultural land and its greater value as house lots. In turn, the state places a deed restriction on the land prohibiting its future development.

Since 1980, this program has helped preserve more than 350 farm properties in Massachusetts, including Shelburne Farm in Stow, and the Nashoba Winery in Bolton, but the available funds cannot keep up with the number of applications for help the program receives.

The more the non-farming residents of a town feel their local farms are an indispensable part of the local scene, the more they'll support preservation efforts.

Think about how much you like seeing apple blossoms in the spring, sheep in the meadows at Pilot Grove Farm, eating fresh-picked corn and other organic vegetables and picking your own flowers at our local organic farms - Applefield Farm and Small Farm. Think also about how much you like picking your own local apples at Carver Hill, Honey Pot, Derby's and Shelburne Farm.

Buy local produce and support your neighborhood farms and orchards!

Stow Conservation Trust Webmaster