The Brewster Conservation Trust and William and Tricia Stallings, working together, have completed the protection of more than 36 acres lying between Satucket, Stony Brook and A.P. Newcomb Roads as a woodland habitat for wildlife.
The effort, said Stallings, has been driven by his wife’s interest in wildlife and animal welfare. She has written, designed ads and supported work in these fields, he said. Stallings is the author of highly regarded texts on the organization and security of computer systems. The refuge, owned by the Stallings for about 15 years, lies up the hill from the long wooded stretch on the north side of Satucket between the Stony Brook and Newcomb roads.
A reforesting oak and pine tract, it contains “the usual wildlife – deer, fox, skunks, coyotes, lots of birds,” said Stallings. “Our feeling is that they were here first; our plan for the land is to just leave it alone.” The Stallings gave BCT a conservation restriction over some 32 acres surrounding their home several years ago. Last month a conservation restriction, held by the BCT, was placed over an adjoining parcel of 4.25 acres. The parcel had been added to the tract last year with the help of the BCT, which managed the removal of a cottage that had been occupied until recently and a shed. “The tract is a large piece of the watershed of Stony Brook,” which is Brewster’s treasured herring run, BCT President Peter Johnson pointed out.
“Keeping it in its natural state is good for wildlife and also good for the water quality of the ponds and brook.” The BCT gave the couple its “Conservationists of the Year Award” in 2000 for their personal commitment to land preservation.