WILTON – After assisting 65 land conservation groups preserve over 12,000 acres of farm and forest land, The Russell Farm and Forest Foundation has announced it will end its conservation work in June 2018. The Foundation has assisted more than 40 towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, including five projects in Wilton and five in Lyndeborough.

Founded in 2003 by Gordon and Barbara Russell of New Boston, the foundation has provided professional guidance to land owners and land conservation societies in their efforts to secure funds to conserve farm and forest land.

The announcement of the closing states, “Early on it became clear that a vast majority of the region’s families increasingly were seeking foods that were grown locally. It became clear that the Foundation’s mission should be to offer direct guidance to those farm families wishing to conserve their properties, while securing funds necessary to make their livelihoods financially viable. During 14 years of operation, the Russell Foundation has pursued that mission.”

The 60 farm projects raised over $16 million, aimed toward providing the benefits to farmland and families.

Moreover, the legacy of those protected lands will guarantee a higher quality of wholesome foods, while simultaneously keeping rich wildlife habitat intact.”

Wilton projects include Temple Wilton Community Farm, both Four Corners Farm and a Gage Road property, High Mowing School, Frye Farm, and some Leslie Tallarico property in Kimball Heights.

In Lyndeborough, the projects are properties owned by Springer, Grossman, Whittaker and Kaymen families plus land along the Mountain Road project protected by the neighborhood.

According to Foundation Director Ian McSweeney, “The Russell Foundation closing was always part of the plan. The Foundation was set up as a spend down foundation, so the initial investment was being spent down as money was granted out.

The reason for the spend down was to focus my time on the project work at hand and not to include fundraising for the Foundation in my role. The Russell Foundation did not want to perpetuate its one existence, instead all time was spent on furthering land protection goals.”

The announcement concludes, “The Foundation wishes to thank the scores of landowners and many partners who made the choice to collaborate with us.”