Success Stories

The Washington Chase Bog

Imagine being able to protect open space and sensitive wetland habitat, build a public walking trail, and add to Brewster’s attainable housing inventory in a single land acquisition. That’s exactly the vision BCT has for this property in East Brewster.

Once the property of cranberry farmer Washington (“Washie”) Chase, this parcel was purchased by BCT earlier this year from David Dalgarn, Washie’s son-in-law, at a below market rate. David's generosity reflected his family's long-standing membership in the Brewster community and their attachment to the land that sustained them.

The property contains two lots and is comprised of a total of 13.94 acres, which includes an existing single-family home on the smaller lot. It provides habitat to deer, skunk, fox, coyotes, rabbits, and numerous birds and insects. Of special importance among the wildlife species living there is the New England box turtle, currently listed as a species of concern.

The acquisition by BCT is innovative and important in its visionary pairing of conservation goals with housing goals. First, it will allow BCT to protect priority habitat along the Rt. 6A corridor while adding another public walking trail through a portion of the parcel's wooded uplands. Second, through a collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, the acquisition will allow for the construction of two new attainable housing units on the existing house lot. Third, it will give BCT the option to provide staff housing to the conservation workforce once repairs to the existing home are completed.

Public support for this project has been and remains instrumental to its ultimate success.