A Connecticut family donated nearly 100 acres of woodland in honour of two ancestors; the land became part of a 1,122-acre nature preserve

While most of us inherit objects we never asked for, be it a dented iron skillet, opinionated recliner, or the ability to get stuck in a group chat, the Pierson family in Connecticut inherited a great tradition. Earlier in 2026, the family donated almost 100 acres of woodland in East Haddam this year as a tribute to Anne Bingham Pierson and her great-grandmother and namesake, Annie Olivia Tiffany Mitchell, according to The Nature Conservancy.

This is now part of the Burnham Brook Preserve. The story may seem a little too much to scroll through quickly. However, as the current generation is still arguing over who can have the good cupboard in their rented home, this story isn’t about land ownership. It’s about what happens to a piece of forest once the owners no longer want it just for themselves.

A family tradition


This wasn’t just a random act. Anne and two of her sisters previously gave conservation easements adjacent to Burnham Brook, and in 2025, The Nature Conservancy purchased further land from the estate of her sister Evie Goodman. Hundreds of acres were also protected by Mitchell in Salem Valley and surrounding areas. Cordelia Pierson, Anne’s daughter, said: “Conservation runs deep in our family.” The preserve itself traces back much further than this recent gift. Its original 46-acre core was donated in 1960 by Dr. Richard Goodwin, one of the founders of The Nature Conservancy, and his wife, Esther, on a farm Goodwin had bought with another couple a few years earlier. Goodwin's home on the property has since become a field office used by the organization and its partners.

The preserve is open to visitors all year round. It is open daily from dawn until dusk. The preserve contains oak, hickory, beech, birch, maple, and conifers. Plus, there is a vernal pond and a wooded viewpoint. Over 180 different bird species have been seen here. A new trail, completed in late 2025, is also available to enjoy the view, and it is accessible using an all-terrain wheelchair. However, there are some restrictions. Pets, bikes, camping, fires, and fishing are not allowed. The preserve also protects the headwaters of the Eightmile River, which was designated under the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers program in 2008. Around 80% of the watershed is covered in forest.

Why your brain might care

As green space is often marketed as ‘self-care,’ it helps to be cautious. A 2019 study titled “Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing,” published in the journal Scientific Reports, found that those who spend at least 120 minutes a week in nature were more likely to report good health and wellbeing. The study looked at survey data from 19,806 people in England. Those who had contact with nature for 2 or more hours a week were more likely to report good health and wellbeing than those with no contact. Although it is an association, not a definite cause, and the data was collected in England.

The part that deserves more attention

While generosity is beautiful to see, we should consider how the system works. According to the Land Trust Alliance’s 2020 National Land Trust Census report, in 2020 land trusts had conserved 61 million acres of land. This is an increase of over 15 million acres since 2010. The numbers are huge! But ultimately, it is based on people choosing to protect their land.

Per The Nature Conservancy, nearly 100 acres is just under 1/10th of the total 1,122 acres. While this is significant, it boils down to one family making a choice. Not many families will have 100 acres to give. So the ability to visit protected woods will depend on who owns the land. This doesn’t take away from the fact they are giving it, but it does make the system feel a little like luck with a good PR team.

Why this matters

You don’t need to have an ancestor with a forest. You can visit the area and stick to the marked pathways. As requested by The Nature Conservancy, you must take your rubbish with you. The path you’re walking on a Saturday morning will probably have a paper trail of people who chose to protect some land.