Krusch Preserve in the Town Report – 2020 – The Peter A. Krusch Nature Preserve – 316 North Cambridge Road, Cambridge, VT 05444

Peter A. Krusch (1931-2018). Resident of Cambridge for 60 years

Peter A. Krusch Nature Preserve
Cambridge’s New Town-Owned Forest

The past year saw the 51-acre Peter A Krusch Nature Preserve deeded to the Town, conserved by Vermont Land Trust and Vermont Housing and Conservation Board easements, and made permanently available to the public for all types of walking activity. The Preserve fulfills the dream of the late Peter Krusch, who owned and carefully stewarded this land for 60 years – its woods, meadow, streams, wetlands, ravines, and waterfalls. In 2003, Peter and his wife conserved a portion of the land with the Vermont Land Trust. Since his death in 2018, Peter’s widow Sally Laughlin has worked tirelessly to conserve the land and donate it to the Town.

Plans and funding are in place for a nature trail through the property (including bridges), with a parking lot as top priority. Thanks go out to the Vermont Land Trust for fundraising and logistics planning; the tireless efforts of the Cambridge Conservation Commission and Trails Committees, and various other volunteers. Donations were received from 152 individuals, four foundations, and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust.

The Krusch Preserve is: .

A place to get outside – The nature trail winds through the Preserve’s woods, meadows, streams, wetlands, ravines and waterfalls and then connects to the Cambridge Pines State Natural Area – one of Vermont’s few old forest areas, which until now has had limited public access.

A place for nature, wildlife and outdoor education – The land will open up possibilities for outdoor education for all ages. Diverse habitats and neighboring old forest provide space for wildlife and great learning opportunities for people.

Important on a statewide level – This land is part of a large connected woodland which gives wide-ranging species such as bear, bobcat, and moose space needed to thrive and provides habitat for interior forest nesting bird species.

The chair of the Cambridge Conservation Commission Justin Marsh states: “Cambridge is rich with features that strengthen our local economy and quality of life, and the Peter A. Krusch Nature Preserve is no exception to that. I’m honored to be part of this historic project for our town and it’s been a pleasure working alongside Sally, the Vermont Land Trust, and the Town of Cambridge to see this to fruition.”