Driven by a desire to protect Barrington’s natural resources, Jim and Ann Schulz found themselves at the forefront of the town’s conservation movement during the 1970’s and 1980’s. They spearheaded the early efforts of the Barrington Conservation Commission and were among the first easement donors in the town, conserving the majority of their 50-acre farm on Scruton Pond Road. Since Jim and Ann had such a unique appreciation for the land, in 1991 when the opportunity arose to purchase 44.6 acres on Brewster Road that was at-risk
for development – even though it was in the process of being clear-cut – they took it.
Under Jim and Ann’s careful stewardship, the land now shows little signs of the past over-harvesting and is flourishing as a diverse, well-managed forest. Its granite ledges make an obvious statement, but upon closer inspection, you’ll find a world of activity: beavers busy tending to their dams, the courting and nesting of great blue herons in a well-established rookery, and different species of turtles sneaking out of the water to sunbathe.
The land is almost like an island, surrounded on three sides by wetlands and streams that are tributaries to the Isinglass River – one of the cleanest tributaries to Great Bay. With dreams of making the property accessible to the public, while maintaining its productive wildlife habitat, Jim and Ann became very involved with the creation of the Barrington Trail.
This popular trail extends from the SELT-held Barr Conservation Easement near Greenhill Road all the way to the Town of Barrington’s athletic fields located on Smoke Street. Over a half mile of the 3.6-mile trail runs through the Schulz property and allows the public to enjoy the natural wonders and history of the area through a variety of passive recreational opportunities.
Following Ann’s passing in 2017, Jim and their children wished to memorialize her legacy by permanently protecting this land and naming it the “Ann Tibbitts Schulz Turtle Brook Preserve”, which SELT is honored to have been chosen to steward in perpetuity. The Schulz family will be making a generous donation of the land to SELT, which will be finalized after an additional $10,000 is raised and a conservation easement to the Natural Resources Conservation Service is finalized. Once conserved, this property will fill a hole in a continuous block of almost 400 acres of protected or public land, leaving a Schulz family legacy for future generations to enjoy.
You can help create the Ann Tibbitts Schulz Turtle Brook Preserve with your gift today at seltnh.org/donate.