Protected Properties

1255 High Street (Holbrook Farm, Sen Ki)

29.7 acres preserved July 2011
Owned by Hale Education
Public welcome on 1.2 miles of hiking trails; dogs not permitted

Sen Ki, or “Land of Stone”, contains almost 30 acres of substantial forest, meadow and wetlands, and a relatively natural habitat of wildlife and plants. The property includes 1.2 miles of hiking trails that provide scenic views from one of the higher elevations in Westwood. These trails form a link connecting conservation and recreational land, and access and hiking trails, from the Dover border through to High Street and beyond to Buckmaster Pond preventing habitat fragmentation.

Shorter hiking loops specifically designed with young children in mind are available. Dogs are not permitted on the property in order for small children to always feel safe. Westwood Land Trust hosts a Hike for Young Families on these trails each year.

Neighbors and concerned preservationists in town worked persistently for 10+ years to ultimately protect this property. Ellen and Duncan McFarland purchased Holbrook Farm, donated a conservation restriction to Westwood Land Trust, and generously donated the property to Hale Education in 2011. Hale Education maintains the property as specified by the conservation restriction. The protection of this property extends an area of forested and natural land, including the adjacent 33-acre Perry property also protected by a conservation restriction, and further through to Hale Education.

665 Clapboardtree Street

29 acres preserved May 2000
23 owned by Town of Westwood; 6 acres privately owned

Majestic American beech trees, towering oaks, and flowing tall grasses distinguish this property. The grasses continue into the open expanse known as Clapboardtree Meadow and provide an important nesting area for Bobolink. Several brooks flow through the rear of the property and continue into 23 acres of abutting land at 795 Clapboardtree Street, also owned by the Town and protected by Westwood Land Trust.

Preservation of this property was made possible when Prout Farm was purchased by Ellen and Duncan McFarland in 1999. They placed it under conservation with Westwood Land Trust the following year. Without the McFarlands’ intervention, the land would have been developed into a 68-unit town house complex. The McFarlands generously donated the meadow to the Town of Westwood. A private family lives in the home.

Sandy Valley Road (Hunnewell)

4 acres preserved March 2003
Owned by Town of Westwood

When driving to the end of Sandy Valley Road, a “Protected by Westwood Land Trust” sign can be seen on your left just before the Lowell Woods parking lot. This sign marks the 4 acres of forested land donated by the Hunnewells. Adjacent to Lowell Woods, the property provides protected space and wildlife habitat.

The 4-acre parcel is part of the property that Jim, Ogden and Bob Hunnewell grew up on. When they inherited the property from their parents, they placed a conservation restriction on this parcel and then donated the land to Town of Westwood. The donation was made in honor of their parents, James and Eleanor Hunnewell, long-time Westwood residents. Although none of them live in Westwood, the brothers wanted to see their childhood town retain its open space and rural character.

541 Gay Street (also includes part of 519 Gay Street)

7.9 acres preserved December 2004
Privately Owned

Purgatory Brook runs through this wooded property. The conservation restriction provides important protection for the brook and the surrounding woods and plant life.

David and Katharine (“Kitty”) Ferguson generously donated the conservation restriction protecting 7.9 acres of their property. Kitty was an avid gardener and served as the President of the Garden Club of America.

682 Clapboardtree Street

6 acres preserved December 2004
Privately Owned

This property is directly across the street from 665 Clapboardtree Street (Prout Farm/Clapboardtree Meadow) - the first property protected by Westwood Land Trust. Forested land, specimen trees, open space, pasture and meadow make up most of the parcel; there is also a single-family home.

Ellen and Duncan McFarland recognized the opportunity to save land so near 665 Clapboardtree Street and purchased the property. The property was placed under a permanent conservation restriction held by Westwood Land Trust.

388 Hartford Street (Perry)

33.4 acres preserved July 2005
Privately Owned

Rocky outcroppings, vernal pools and forests provide important wildlife habitat on this 33-acre parcel. Its location is key as it abuts 1000+ acres of Hale Education and Sen Ki, another property protected by Westwood Land Trust. During the annual Tri-Town Hike sponsored by The Trustees of the Reservation and Hale Education, the Perry property is the link between Sen Ki and Hale Education.

Located at the corner of Hartford Street and Mill Street, the property has been privately owned by the Perry family since 1908. In October 2003, the Perry family graciously offered Westwood Land Trust an option to purchase the development rights to the property, valued at over $3.45 million, for the discounted price of $1.3 million. The property had been recommended for conservation several times by town bodies, including the Conservation Commission in 1968 and 1979, and then by the authors of the Westwood Comprehensive Plan in 1999. Westwood Land Trust initiated the Perry Property Capital Campaign in the fall of 2003. Over 300 individuals donated to the Campaign, and the preservation effort became a reality.

572, 588 and 590 Gay Street and Sandy Valley Road

74.5 acres preserved December 2005
Privately Owned

Scenic views of open, rolling fields are preserved along the 1,475 feet of frontage on Gay Street, as well as views of forested land along Sandy Valley Road. The property includes many acres of wetlands and forests and ensures a diversity of wildlife habitat. In addition, the land abuts over 300 acres of open space that includes Lowell Woods and other Town property.

Ellen and Duncan McFarland preserved over 74 acres of land located at 572, 588, and 590 Gay Street and Sandy Valley Road. The property was placed under a permanent conservation restriction held by Westwood Land Trust. Under the terms of the conservation restriction, no additional homes can be built on the property.

795 Clapboardtree Street (Campanelli)

22.7 acres preserved December 2006
Owned by Town of Westwood

This property is adjacent to 665 Clapboardtree Street (Prout Farm/Clapboardtree Meadow) and extends the area protected by Westwood Land Trust. With almost 23 acres of mature woods, this parcel was long identified as important for open space.

The land was part of the former Polaroid Complex off of Route 1A/Washington Street. When it went up for sale, Ellen and Duncan McFarland purchased the property to prevent development. The property was placed under a permanent conservation restriction held by Westwood Land Trust. The McFarlands generously donated the property to the Town.

263 Grove Street (Part of former Lee Estate)

2 acres preserved December 2013
Privately Owned

This two-acre property includes 250 feet of frontage on Grove Street, a designated scenic road.  The open field can be seen from the street and provides habitat for wild turkeys, birds and other wildlife. 

Originally part of the Lee Estate, preservation-minded Westwood residents purchased the property and placed a conservation restriction on it to prevent development. 

303, 315, 327 Grove Street (Hawthorne Farm; Part of former Lee Estate)

8.1 acres preserved June 2016
Privately Owned

Specimen oak trees, stonewalls and open fields provide scenic views along Summer Street and Grove Street, a designated scenic road.

The iconic Lee Estate home on this property was hours from being demolished when concerned neighbors convinced the owner to delay his plans.  Julia and Eric Woodard purchased the house lot, and Westwood Land Trust purchased the two open lots with the generosity of over 200 donors.  A conservation restriction was ultimately put in place to preserve all 3 parcels on more than 8 acres - maintaining these scenic views.

159 Summer Street (Part of former Lee Estate)

1.9 acres preserved March 2017
Privately Owned

This property continues the preservation of the former Lee Estate that was located on Grove Street and Summer Street.  Neighbors generously purchased this property when it went up for sale and donated the parcel to Westwood Land Trust. In 2017, a conservation restriction was placed on the parcel to permanently protect it from development.

264, 268 Summer Street (Part of former Lee Estate)

2.7 acres preserved August 2018
Privately Owned

With almost 450 feet of frontage along Summer Street, saving these wooded lots helps to preserve the view scape along Summer Street, a designated scenic way. This property continues the preservation of the former Lee Estate that was located on Grove Street and Summer Street.  Lee Pond abuts the property in the rear.

Westwood Land Trust purchased the property in 2017 from owners Suzanne and Timothy Connors, who generously sold the two lots at a bargain price.  More than 150 individuals donated to Westwood Land Trust to make the purchase possible. A conservation restriction was placed on the property the following year.