Historic Woodlot Now Open for Public Access

The continuing preservation of a historic site over 250 years old is now guaranteed, thanks to the work of Bernards Township officials and the English family of English Farm.

Bernards Township and members of the English family have agreed to conservation easement, which grants public access and guarantees the preservation of the 59-acre English Woodlot property at the corner of Allen and Somerville roads.

The English Woodlot has been used by the owners and operators of the English Farm to provide the timber for running the farm operations. The English farm itself is located off of Valley Road in the Liberty Corner Historic District and was probably established before 1750, according to the Historical Society of Somerset Hills.

The English family did not want to sell the Woodlot property to the Township, but wanted to guarantee its preservation, as well as to make it available for public access, according to Mayor Scott Spitzer, who publicly thanked Carol English and her husband Patrick Black at the Township Committee meeting on Tuesday.

The result was the implementation of an unusual conservation easement on the property.

The easement prevents in perpetuity any subdivision or development of the 59-acre lot, as well as opens it up for passive recreational use by the public. The property will be open year-round for activities such as walking, jogging, cross-country skiing, hiking, bird watching and other nature viewing.

The English family will continue to own and maintain the property, and have a professionally prepared woodland management plan to properly preserve the land.

Because the English Farm is still in operation, the easement allows the family to remove up to 18 trees per year on a "use it or lose it" basis (no ability to store up trees to cut down later) and to remove rocks from one quarter of an acre of the property. All of which are used to support farm operations.

"These efforts bring to reality one of the most important land preservation successes in our Township's history," Spitzer said at the Township Committee meeting. "I am very proud to be a part of the Township Committee in making this a reality."

Spitzer also commented on the preservation efforts of the town as a whole, "[The preservation of the Woodlot] creates a very substantial scenic viewscape along both sides of Allen Road that large numbers of our residents, especially our Hills residents, will continue to enjoy each and every day."

"I want to thank the Township Committee and the members of the township for working with us to make this happen," Carol English said at the meeting. "This is something that we have wanted to do for a while and I know it was a lot of work. ... It is something that our father always talked about so I am very pleased that we were able to do this."