The Guilford Land Conservation Trust (GLCT) has announced that an individual friend of the Land Trust from Guilford has made a leadership gift of $100,000 toward the $592,000 purchase of the idyllic 25-acre field across from Melissa Jones School in North Guilford. GLCT is grateful for this enormously generous act, which the anonymous donor hopes will inspire the broader community to help GLCT protect this important place.

GLCT has already received support from local community organizations, including the Guilford Preservation Alliance which, in recognition of the scenic and historic relationship between this hilltop and the new acquisition, has contributed $10,000 toward the purchase price. GLCT continues to pursue grant funding for the purchase, and, at a Dec. 5 town meeting, the Town of Guilford approved more than $200,000 in support of the project and to acquire a conservation easement on the property once the land trust takes ownership.

GLCT is asking for continued community support for this project with a remaining fundraising goal of $100,000. The 25-acre field is quintessential Guilford scenery enjoyed daily by people passing by.

The parcel frames the Meeting House Hill Historic District, which includes the cemetery and historic churches at the top of the hill along Great Hill Road. Fields such as this are easily developed and can vanish quickly. GLCT is honored that the Rusconi family chose to work with the Trust to conserve the property.

The Guilford Land Conservation Trust is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. Contributions go directly to the purchase and conservation of natural places in Guilford.

Best known for its work in Westwoods and Bluff Head, GLCT has been acquiring conservation land since 1965. Today, through the generous financial support of the Guilford community, GLCT protects 3,200 acres in Guilford. To learn more and to help with this project, please visit www.guilfordlandtrust.org