Perrin family, town, and VLT collaborate to protect over 100 wooded acres for public use, wildlife, and clean water
The Town of Berlin purchased 115 acres of forest that the Perrin family conserved with us. The land will be added to the Berlin Town Forest known as Irish Hill and fills a missing piece to connect more than 1,000 acres of conserved forestland.
It will be permanently open to the public for recreation and education, including hiking, walking, birdwatching, cross-country skiing, hunting, snowshoeing, and wildlife observation. The acquisition was approved by a town vote and made possible through the efforts of the Town, its Conservation Commission, and VLT, with funding support from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB).
Wendelyn Bolles, chair of the Berlin Conservation Commission, said: “Twenty years ago, the Berlin Conservation Commission identified the Perrin parcel as an important piece in Berlin’s ecological, recreational and historical landscape. When the Perrin family and Vermont Land Trust approached the Berlin Conservation Commission this past summer about adding the land to Berlin’s town forests, we eagerly agreed to work with them to pursue the opportunity. We thank the Berlin voters for strongly approving this project. Their support ensures that this natural area will be protected and accessible to the public for generations to come.”
“This addition to the Berlin Town Forest is an important step in preserving this beautiful piece of land,” said Ture Nelson, interim town administrator and selectboard member for Berlin. “Thanks to the Berlin Conservation Commission and Berlin voters for working with the VLT and VHCB to make this happen.”
The Town of Berlin plans to develop a new public trail on the property to access Irish Hill, and future management actions will be determined in consultation with residents.
Irish Hill addition protects trails, wildlife habitat, wetlands and streams
Located along Darling Road on the western hillside above Berlin Pond, the entirely wooded property directly borders the 355-acre Boyer State Forest to the northwest and the 573-acre VLT-conserved Irish Hill Town Forest to the east and northeast. Existing trails on those community resources extend onto this parcel and the area is frequented by community members for hiking, skiing, birding, hunting, and other outdoor activities. The Town of Berlin plans to develop a new public trail on the property to access Irish Hill, and future management actions will be determined in consultation with residents.
The parcel is part of a large, intact block of forestland above Berlin Pond. Its conservation protects clean water in several streams that, along with a five-acre wetland, flow into the pond. Several diverse habitats and rare species are found there.
VLT’s Mead Binhammer said: “From the project’s inception, it was clear that the Perrin family, the Town of Berlin, and VLT all shared the same goals: to see the forested property permanently protected from development with its natural resources intact, and forever open as a public resource to residents and visitors. We’re pleased to work in partnership to complete this conservation milestone, augmenting Irish Hill’s value to the local community.”
Long-time owners protected beloved family land for the future
The land has been owned for many decades by the Perrin family. The longtime Berlin residents, who used it for farming until the 1960s, affectionately called it their “mountain pasture.” Most recently, the property was co-owned by brothers Henry and David Perrin who, alongside their sister, Sally Perrin Chartrand, managed the land and developed a love for it as a place to camp and hike. After Henry and David passed in 2018 and 2023, respectively, the property was transferred to a family trust that decided to protect it in honor of their loved ones.
“Our family is delighted that this special land will now be a protected public resource for generations to come, and we are proud that it will become an integral part of the Berlin Town Forest,” said Cynthia Perrin Franklin, daughter of David Perrin and representative of the family trust.
The town will seek community input to develop a management plan that meets the requirements of the conservation easement and balances human and ecological needs.
The land’s protection was funded by a grant from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board.
“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with the Town of Berlin on our dual-goal mission through this project and Berlin’s nearby new town center with 30 new affordable apartments,” said VHCB executive director Gus Seelig. “Congratulations to the Vermont Land Trust, the Town of Berlin, and the Perrin family on an excellent addition to Irish Hill. One of several investments in Irish Hill, this project achieves so much; with important protections for natural resources, wildlife, and water quality, it also provides a great community asset for residents and visitors.”
Photo at top: Community members and partners took a walk before the closing on Wednesday May 14, 2025. L to R: Tom Willard, Meg Denton, Phil Gentile, Ellen Sulek, VLT’s Mead Binhammer, Wendelyn Bolles, and Cynthia Perrin Franklin.
