Summer at The Trustees is a fascinating season. It's the time of year when we have the most staff on the ground and we experience the most engagement with our members and visitors. My visits to meet staff and volunteers and see properties this week were helpful for understanding how we encourage public stewardship. The protection and management of our iconic reservations are critical but we must combine that with strategic opportunities for public enjoyment. The staff and stakeholders are constantly innovating the way we do this as our properties are not static objects. Needs and challenges are ever-changing.
This is true for properties new and old. This week I visited one of our relatively newer reservations, the stunning Ashintully Gardens in Tyringham in the Berkshires. A place with its own footprint in time, it carries a tragic story about a lost era and an unfortunate fire that turned an historic estate into a place of remarkable ruins. The utter feeling of this place goes beyond a historic house museum, because, while the beautiful gardens remain, the house is no longer. Instead, those who visit are left with a feeling of what was – for me, and for so many others, that is the"awe" moment at this reservation. Yet, the ruins and the gardens need to be preserved and it is our journey to share the love for this property, generously gifted by John and Katharine McLennan, with as many people as possible while not treading on the serenity and mysticism that is its hallmark – a challenge indeed.
Another great example of getting the balance right is at one of our more known reservations, Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge on Nantucket, better known as Great Point by Nantucketers. First, let me pause to say that the team working on Nantucket are world class. Steve Nicolle, our operations manager and a Nantucket resident, loves his work and it shows in his approach and that of his team. Assistant Superintendent Chris Bonelli was our bird expert of the day and, under his guidance, I saw my first Piping Plover chick. Spend time looking for nests and you gain a profound appreciation for the expertise required!
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| The beloved Great Point lighthouse, a must see for anyone touring the island. |
We acquired this property in 1974 because of the incredible generosity of the Backus family, the original owners of the infamous Wauwinet Inn. Mrs. Backus loved Nantucket and realized that, to share this affection, this property was best conserved. An incredibly smart lady, she worked with The Trustees and our partner, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, to make that a reality. And there it is today combined with gifts from other generous families who joined her charge – now the most spectacular 1,100 acres on Nantucket is protected for all, including the birds who need this habitat. As a wildlife refuge, we must balance the needs of all users of this beautiful place. Again, it's a complex journey to protect the environment for future generations so they too can experience the same Nantucket we all love. We depend on our Nantucket Property Committee, a group of 20 impressive volunteer leaders, to assist us in this strategy. On Thursday night, they gathered at the home of the committee chair, Pete Howell, to officially welcome me to The Trustees. They are a fantastic group of people that I'm thrilled to be working with and humbled by their commitment and advice.
One thing remains constant for me in this journey: the amazing people together with the special places that make our mission possible.
