The Nature Conservancy Tours Sherwood Forest and Looks

to the Future of the Westfield River Watershed

The Westfield River winds through some of the most pristine forest in Massachusetts. Marshes, bogs and other rich wetlands dot the landscape. Migratory songbirds fill the air with their music. Bobcats, moose and black bears roam about on their travels between New England and the Appalachians. The Westfield River Watershed is the newest, and one of the largest focus area priorities, of the Massachusetts Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.

Bill Toomey with Sherwood Forest’s Lake Lancelot in background

The Nature Conservancy recently hired Massachusetts resident Bill Toomey as its Westfield River Highlands Program Director. Working from offices alongside The Becket Land Trust and The Becket Land Trust Historic Quarry and Forest in Becket’s Mullen House Education Center; Toomey will direct the Conservancy’s outreach, conservation and land protection activities in the 380,000 acre Westfield River Highlands landscape.

“The intact nature of the landscape, Toomey said, “with its high quality rivers, streams and wetlands; its large unbroken tracts of forest and prime wildlife habitat; makes this one of the best and last opportunities for large scale lasting conservation in Southern New England. The forests also act as a buffer for important river and wetlands systems, protecting the waterways that sustain our drinking water supplies, and supporting native plants and animals.”

Bill Toomey recently toured Sherwood Forest, noting that “With Sherwood Forest being within the watershed of the Westfield River, the future plans for additional development within Sherwood Forest have the potential to result in impacts to the Westfield Watershed.  In order to protect this incredible resource, the success of the Sherwood Forest Environmental District, and actions of current and future residents, will be critical in helping to ensure the protection of the unique natural resources found within Sherwood Forest and the larger watershed of the Westfield River. Given the demand for primary and secondary homes, and the rate of land conversion in Massachusetts and southern New England, the remaining large tracts of undeveloped land in western Massachusetts provide a unique opportunity to work with local communities and private landowners in a way that balances future growth with natural resource preservation.”