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Places We Protect

Roger and Virginia Drury Preserve

Trees in the forest, filling the frame from base to canopy, with moss-covered tree stumps and logs in the foreground.
Under the Trees Explore a lush forested landscape on an easy-to-navigate trail. © Mike Condon (IG: MCondon1)

Home to great blue herons, bobcats and a variety of forest and plant communities.

Viewing

Overview

Description

Why You Should Visit

This preserve protects a rich array of lowland forest and plant communities. At the end of the trail there is a spectacular view across Schenob Brook of Mount Race. Waterproof shoes are recommended.

Why TNC Selected This Site

The first Nature Conservancy preserve in the southern Berkshires, the Drury Preserve was created in 1997 to honor the donation of 65 acres in 1984 by Roger and Virginia Drury. This preserve is part of our largest protected area in the state, Schenob Brook, important for its many regionally important calcareous wetlands. Since 1984 we have added 2,500 acres of protection in the Schenob Brook wetland complex including significant upland acreage to the west to protect the source of water for many of the wetlands.

What TNC Has Done/Is Doing

TNC staff and volunteers replaced the boardwalk in 2015. We also created a parking area and a new kiosk in 2015-2016. We also regularly control invasive species on this preserve.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Highlights

Hike a lightly marked trail through regionally important calcareous wetlands.

Size

65 acres

Explore our work in this region

What to See

The trail passes through northern hardwoods with rich understory diversity, including many spring ephemeral wildflowers as well as fall flowering asters and bends around unique cobbles that are common in the southern Berkshires. Our trail also passes by the fields of Moon in the Pond Farm, which TNC has protected with a conservation restriction.

Past the farm the trail transitions onto a 600-foot-long boardwalk and goes over bridges as it passes through forested wetlands and streams. In these wetter areas you may see mossy cup oak, jack-in-the-pulpit and skunk cabbage. The trail will lead you out to a ponded section of Schenob Brook where great blue herons, kingfishers and other wetland-dependent birds are often seen.

Some other unique features to keep an eye out for are limestone sink holes, an old quarry and the remnants of the stone foundation of Captain Barnum’s house. Wildlife is abundant in this preserve, with coyote, bobcat and turkey wandering the woods. The littlest of critters also call this place home, including the bright orange red eft, which is frequently seen traveling across the trail in the later summer and fall.

Accessibility

All reasonable requests for special accommodations will be made with ample notice. Contact the Western Massachusetts office at 413-229-0232.

A lightly marked trail, which is approximately a 3-mile walk, gently slopes through a variety of wet and dry communities. There are boardwalks over the wettest areas, but waterproof shoes are a good idea.

Preserve Policies

  • Preserve open daily from dawn to dusk.
  • Foot traffic only.
  • Groups larger than 10 people are asked to coordinate their visit with our Western Massachusetts office at 413-229-0232.
  • Please stay on the trail and boardwalk to protect this fragile ecosystem.
  • No collecting of plants or animals.
  • No pets.
  • Carry out all litter.
  • No fires, smoking or camping.