The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation is a private, non-profit, member-supported land conservation trust. It was founded in 1986 to address the loss of open space and public access, the disappearance of family farms in the Williamstown area and to encourage responsible development.
The WRLF:
- Owns over 830 acres in 18 parcels that are open to the public for hiking and recreation
- Holds 12 Conservation Restrictions on over 280 acres
- Maintains over 10 miles of area trails
- Has preserved more than 3,500 acres of prime agricultural, forest and habitat lands
- Hosts programs and events for all ages and open to the public year round.
In cooperation with partner organizations and agencies and including the holdings noted above, the WRLF has preserved more than 3,500 acres of prime agricultural, forest and habitat lands including the Petersburg Pass Scenic Area, the Haley Farm on the Hopper that’s now part of the Mount Greylock Reservation, the Phelps Farm in South Williamstown, and our scenic and historic Sheep Hill headquarters.
Sheep Hill is the site for programs and events highlighting the natural and cultural history of the former farm, the town and the surrounding region. Did you know that the Williamstown valley was once at the bottom of a large and deep lake? This and more information is available in the Dietze Interpretive Center in the old dairy barn. Programs, events, and informal exploration are available year round. Children’s nature programs include school field trips, pre-school, after school and summer nature and science.