Stories of the Land

The stories are rooted in the lands all around us. Many stories are lost forever when natural lands are converted to other uses while some stories are preserved by virtue of permanently protecting the landscapes within which human history resides. Enjoy these stories of the land made possible by your land-saving support of Harwich Conservation Trust.

A boost for water resource protection: HCT Launches Robbins Pond Woodlands Project

December 18, 2025

Thanks to a state grant program designed to supplement local land protection, Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) is launching a fundraising effort to preserve nearly 18 acres of environmentally sensitive land…

Fate, family and conservation: Red River Valley Preserve on the rise

December 5, 2025

A land-saving symphony is being composed along the Red River in Harwich, thanks to generous Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) donors, Town and State partners and longstanding stewardship by the Chase…

Help Us Preserve Pine Island to Protect the Herring River

June 27, 2025

Pine Island in Harwich is a land that time forgot, in the best way possible. Surrounded by the vast salt marsh of the Herring River estuary, the island outpost is…

HCT’s campaign to save six lots near Pleasant Bay reaches goal

June 18, 2025

Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) has announced that a $450,000 fundraising campaign to acquire six buildable lots in Harwich has reached its goal. Thanks to generous donations, two upland properties totaling…

Harwich Conservation Trust Seeks Pond Front Properties

September 19, 2024

Nestled in the woodlands south of Route 39 and west of Depot Road is the nearly 2-acre Rushy Pond. Rushy Pond lives up to its name given the profusion of…

Donating Land in the Red River Valley

June 27, 2024

Stars Align to Connect Two Friends that Preserve Land Together Gifts of land to Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) preserve precious natural habitats for the benefit of wildlife and people alike.…

Wayne Coulson Gives Land for the Benefit of All

December 6, 2023

  “Buy land. They’re not making it anymore.” — Mark Twain Mark Twain had a gift for getting to the heart of a matter. If he were here today, he’d heartily…

Tuttle Family Protects Local Land, Water & River Herring

May 23, 2020

To protect windswept wetland, tall oaks, and an active herring run, Doug and Carol Tuttle donated their 7-acre Oak Island Bog to HCT this May after their family stewarded the…

History of the Island Pond Conservation Lands

July 7, 2018

Island Pond Conservation Lands: Created Through Partnership, Patience & Persistence Story by Lee Roscoe Vision, luck, persistence, compassion, patience, flexibility, fate—just some of the elements that form the origin of…

Pleasant Bay Woodlands: Unearthing the Story Beneath Our Feet

October 4, 2017

By Scott Ridley As we come to understand the history of a place, driving along a road, or walking a trail becomes a very different experience. We get to see…