Manchester Essex Conservation Trust

...preserving natural beauty, wildlife habitat and resources at the gateway

Manchester Essex Conservation Trust is celebrating 60 years of conservation in the towns of Manchester and Essex. Since our inception in 1963, MECT has grown and evolved,  just as Manchester and Essex have.  We appreciate the generous and growing support from these communities as we preserve, protect, and steward open spaces for the lasting benefit of the community while connecting people with the land that defines the natural character of these towns.

To celebrate our MECT history and impact, we have compiled a list of 60 Places for 60 Years – a collection of favorite places that tell the story of our towns from colonial beginnings.  Some of the 60 Places highlight areas that MECT conserves through ownership, conservation restrictions or in partnership with other organizations. And some of the spaces are not yet conserved – though they are very valuable to our communities.

All of these places highlight the rich ecosystem and abundant life that are found in the woodlands and wetlands of Manchester and Essex, areas that have long been better known for their coastlines. Find them here: 60 Places

Community Engagement

Nature treasure hunters
Comparing natural treasures.

MECT exists to support our Community: Our members, partners, stakeholders, and all residents of Manchester and Essex as well as the residents of surrounding towns.

We share this beautiful part of the world with everyone and want all to get to know and explore why the land we acquire, protect, and steward is so important to our collective future. To that end, we offer both self and expert-led Events; a semi-annual Newsletter that brings important conservation issues to light; emails and web postings to keep you updated on the latest news and opportunities to get involved in our overall mission; Trail Maps and our Woodland Guide to help you navigate our properties.

Education Programs

MECT provides grants and other support to the Manchester Essex Regional School District so that the next generation of conservationists can experience the out-of-doors with creative programming through our partners at Kestrel Adventures.

We are developing a plan to expand this program significantly. If you would like to help with that endeavor, please reach out to us! Are you home-schooling your children? Let’s create some outdoor adventures!

Questions? We love messages