Bear Swamp

IUCN Category V - Protected Landscape / Seascape

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Bear Swamp is a 285 acre ( 1.2 km ²) large nature reserve in Ashfield in the northwest of the state of Massachusetts in the United States. It is managed by the organization The Trustees of Reservations and is accessible for free.

History

In the 18th century the area by European settlers was largely cleared and used as a sheep pasture, and for other agriculture. In the 1960s, Esther and Philip Steinmetz began under the impression that more and more natural areas are lost, buy land and preserve what they could convince other residents of the area. Today, a memorial plaque at the Apple Valley Overlook it. In 1968 she gave the acquired land to the Trustees, further subregions followed by other donors. Finally, the organization was able to purchase land in this area in 1997 year.

Sanctuary

The protected area are approx 3 mi ( 4.8 km ) of hiking trails. As a special attraction, a beaver pond and extensive orchards offer. Today, the formerly used as pasture is again largely covered with trees and shrubs and has large areas of forest on.

While the seasonal hunting is allowed, mountain biking is explicitly prohibited.