More Good News for Sapowet Marsh Wildlife and Nature Lovers

TIVERTON, RI — The Nature Conservancy announces that the estate of Lucinda Wilcox Peckham has donated a conservation easement on a historic, 32-acre farm in Tiverton, according to Tim Mooney.

"The parcel is located just west of the former Nonquit School on Puncatest Neck Road, near Tiverton Four Corners.

"Lucinda Peckham, a longtime Sakonnet resident who died in September 2015, provided for the farm’s preservation in her estate plan. According to her wishes, the property has been transferred to her niece, Penelope Neville, ensuring that the land remains in the family as it has been for more than 300 years. She also directed that a permanent conservation easement be assigned to the Conservancy, guaranteeing that the farm – with its areas of hayfield, forest, and salt marsh – will be kept as such forever.

'This is a wonderful capstone gift, building on 20 years of land protection work around Sapowet Marsh,' said John Berg, Manager of Conservancy’s Sakonnet Program. 'We are deeply grateful to Mrs. Peckham for her generous gift, and for entrusting The Nature Conservancy with the preservation of her farm, which has immense value for wildlife.'

"The Peckham property adds to an existing 310-acre protected area that includes the state-owned Sapowet Marsh Wildlife Management Area and the Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge, held by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. It also preserves a vital habitat connection of coastal shrubland, oak-hickory forest, hayfield, and freshwater swamp between Sapowet Marsh to the north and Nonquit Pond and the Conservancy’s Fogland Marsh Preserve to the south.

"Sapowet Marsh provides outstanding habitat for saltmarsh sparrows, egrets, ducks and many other water birds. In addition, the coastal zone of the Peckham property contains a significant border of coastal thicket, which provides food and cover for migratory songbirds. Protection of the Peckham property also helps maintain the character of Sapowet as a coastal marsh framed by forest, right up to the settlement at Tiverton Four Corners.