Conservation Groups Join Burleighs in Celebrating Easement
by Edd Merritt

Thirty-six friends, neighbors and representatives from several conservation groups joined Arthur Burleigh and his family at a vantage point on the 72.5 acres of Burleigh farm property recently conserved. Arthur, his daughter, Sheila, and son, Gary (who still hays the land), said they had to move the cows from the field for the occasion. Burleigh’s hillside overlooks an additional 123 acres of Lewis Creek Hill Natural Area, which is land preserved by the Nature Conservancy. Al Karnatz from the Vermont Land Trust toasted the Burleighs for their farsightedness in keeping the land free of development in perpetuity. He admitted that he was not absolutely certain how long “perpetuity” extended, although he felt it was “longer than forever.”
Other representatives from the Vermont Housing Conservation Board (VHCB), the Charlotte Land Trust and the Nature Conservancy mingled with friends from the community, enjoying the vistas, the camaraderie and the food and drink.