Senator Chris Dodd (CT) and Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) have joined forces to advocate for open space protection in Simsbury. Dodd and Murphy wrote to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, and the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Abigail Kimbell, in support of a Forest Legacy Grant for the 73-acre Tulmeadow woodlot in West Simsbury. While 187 acres of the Tulmeadow Farm are already protected by conservation easements and are under the management of the Simsbury Land Trust, this grant would allow for protection of the remaining 73 acres of open space that is part of a 25 mile, 8,000 acre natural corridor that runs from Simsbury all the way to the Massachusetts border.

"The undeveloped regions of northwestern Connecticut represent some of our state’s greatest natural treasures and serve as an important resource for residents," said Dodd. "Preserving the ecological integrity and pristine beauty of Tulmeadow Farm will go a long way toward maintaining a good quality of life for the residents of Simsbury and the surrounding communities."

"Tulmeadow Farm is an incredible treasure for the residents of northwestern Connecticut, and epitomizes the results of good land management. The addition of these 73 acres will preserve and protect even more of this historic landmark and its beautiful ecological diversity," Murphy said.

Preservation of this land is strongly supported by the community, and the Simsbury Land Trust has successfully raised over $1.5 million in private funding, in addition to public grants it has received. The Trust manages and protects over 800 acres, maintaining trails and meadows, and hosting educational and recreational events for residents.

Murphy, the Co-Chairman of the Land Conservation Caucus, has prioritized the preservation of undeveloped open spaces, and previously wrote to Connecticut officials, including the Department of Environmental Protection, requesting their support for the Tulmeadow Farm conservation effort.

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