Community Spotlight: Kestrel Land Trust
Meet our December 2025 Community Spotlight organization: Kestrel Land Trust
When was your organization founded and for what purpose was it established?
In 1970, The Kestrel Trust was founded in Amherst, MA, by local conservation leaders, including Janet Dakin who also established the Dakin Humane Society. The all-volunteer land trust supported the town of Amherst, helping to conserve special places for the community, and gradually expanded its service to surrounding communities as well. In 2011, The Kestrel Trust merged with Valley Land Fund to become Kestrel Land Trust and grew our service area to include towns and cities throughout Hampshire county and beyond.
In 2020, Kestrel celebrated 50 years of conserving and caring for the land in the Valley, and expanded its small staff to more than a dozen dedicated professionals supporting conservation, stewardship, community engagement, and membership. Kestrel moved to its new permanent headquarters at the Sweet Alice Conservation Area on the Mount Holyoke Range in Amherst.
Learn more about their story and vision
How would you describe the impact of the work your organization does?
What does “home” mean to you? It’s much more than the roof over your head. It’s the people you love, it’s the community you share, it’s the familiar and beloved landscape that nourishes and sustains your daily life. Whether you live near the rich farmland of Hadley, or in the forested hills of Leverett, or along the Norwottuck Rail-Trail in downtown Northampton, the Connecticut River Valley is the place we all are fortunate to call home.
Kestrel Land Trust’s work helps to create and sustain the Valley as a home for all of us where:
Local farms provide healthy food;
Local forests provide life-sustaining clean water and air;
Wild, natural habitats are preserved to provide safe homes for wildlife;;
Public lands and conservation areas bring communities together to enjoy and experience the physical and mental health benefits of the outdoors
Sustainable agriculture and forestry contribute to a sound economy;
People are inspired to act as good stewards of our common natural heritage for future generations; and
People from all walks of life have the opportunity to build a strong appreciation for and connection to the land.
For more about our specific impacts, read their 2024 Annual Impact Report
What program or project are you most excited about developing/expanding over the coming years, and why?
Kestrel has embarked on an exciting new collaborative initiative called Growing Green: Easthampton. This pilot project is a partnership with the City of Easthampton, Mass Audubon, and The Community Builders—a national non-profit organization that develops, owns and operates affordable and mixed-income housing—to provide a viable housing site with socially equitable access to open space, while protecting critical natural resources at the same time.
Easthampton was chosen for this project since issues of housing, land availability, and prices have become particularly challenging. Thanks to two anonymous donors who provided the seed funding for this initiative, our team located 53 acres that will become the site of this new project. The majority of the land—42 acres of forest, field, and farmland—is now permanently conserved, while the remaining 11 acres along the road will support up to 60 affordable rental units in one building.
What is one simple thing an individual can do to make a difference in the lives of the folks you serve
Get involved! Volunteer, attend our community events, go enjoy our nature retreats with a friend, and become a member.
