When the 12-acre Birch Family lot on the Indian Neck peninsula in Wareham went on the market for development in October 2023, neighbors called the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

This upland forest and open meadow was at risk of being developed into at least two house lots and associated road with septic infrastructure. Such a development would have broken up a large block of forested open space that provides vital wildlife habitat and water quality protection for this corner of Buzzards Bay. 

BBC is now working to finalize the permanent conservation restriction that it will hold on the property to ensure the protection of the land in perpetuity. Once protected, the land will be owned by the neighborhood association.  

Inspired by this opportunity to further protect what is so special about this part of the Bay, two nearby landowners have also decided to donate Conservation Restrictions on their land to BBC – ensuring that they will remain natural forever. These additional 10 acres, combined with the Birch property purchase, means that 22 acres will be preserved on Indian Neck through this project.  

“Protecting important land in this way serves as an example of communities and neighbors coming together to protect what is so special about Buzzards Bay,” said Brendan Annett, the Coalition’s Vice-President of Watershed Protection.