Ocean views protected from developers

Jul 14, 2018

On July 14, a red ribbon fluttered in the breeze, marking the entrance to the newly preserved Ocean View Farm moments before dozens of nature lovers set off to explore the site now open to the public.

It was all part of the opening ceremonies for Ocean View Reserve, Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust's newest reserve. Located at 28 Allens Neck Road, the 115-acre property was secured in August 2017 by the land trust, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, and Round the Bend Farm as part of a $9 million effort to protect a total of 215 acres of land on Allens Pond, one of New England’s most significant coastal habitats.

The northern 55 acres of the land belongs to and will be farmed by Round the Bend Farm, while the southern 60 acres will be preserved and restored for wildlife habitat, as well as featuring a three-fourth mile walking trail.

This land was used agriculturally for generations, most recently by the Motha family, who began farming the land in 1889. The Motha family continued to farm the land until 2010, when Bob Motha passed away at the age of 98.

Bob Motha’s daughter, Roberta Hobart, and her granddaughter, Maia Paull, were present at the event, and Maia cut the ribbon after remarks by Dexter Mead, the director of the land trust.

“I could never leave,” Hobart said after the ceremony. “It’s a slice of heaven.”

In his speech, Mead referenced the many unusual natural features of the land, which led the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program to designate 41 acres of the reserve as “Priority Habitats of Rare Species” for species including fish, plants, insects, and Massachusetts’ only salt water turtle, the diamond-backed terrapin.

Mead also mentioned those for whom features of the reserve are dedicated. An overlook is named to honor Joseph “Bob” Motha, who farmed the land and protected it from developers. A wildlife viewing platform at the end of the trail is dedicated to Hope and Ruth Atkinson, sisters who were early members of the land trust and avid birders, whose bequest made the platform possible. A large field is named “Malcolm’s Field,” for Malcolm Johnston, a long-time land trust member and volunteer, who helped with the fundraising that secured the Ocean View Farm Reserve.

“I think it’s terrific,” said Mead of the event. “We’ve had a great turnout, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s a perfect day.”

After the remarks, Gina Purtell and Lauren Miller-Donnelly of Mass Audubon and Leah Howard and Linda Vanderveer of the land trust led the more than 100 attendees in groups on a tour of the property, stopping to explain features of the land along the way, including a freshwater pond, and massive climbable piles of bedrock that had been cleared when the land was active farmland.

The property is now open to the public, although dogs are not allowed in order to protect the birds that nest on the property. More information, along with a map of the trail, is available at dnrt.org.