Somerset County Farmland Protected

A new conservation easement totaling 30.2 acres will permanently protect important farmland in Westover, located in Somerset County. Landowner Frederick Howard donated the easement to the Maryland Environmental Trust to safeguard its resources and his family’s legacy.

“We are grateful for Mr. Howard’s efforts to help keep this farmland a productive part of the local economy and to protect the scenic view,” Maryland Environmental Trust Director Bill Leahy said.

The easement serves as an integral part of the area’s agricultural setting, connecting protected farms, offering prime soils for farming and providing sweeping views of the farmland along Revell’s Neck Road.

“I am extremely pleased that an organization like the Maryland Environmental Trust is available to residents so that we may be able to preserve our farmland for future generations,” Howard said. “This particular piece of farmland has been in my family for over 200 years and dates back to a direct ancestor who served in the Somerset County militia during the American Revolution. It’s a great feeling to know this old farmland will be protected in the future regardless of who owns the property.”

The Maryland Environmental Trust is a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and is governed by a citizen board of trustees. The trust currently holds more than 1,080 easements totaling around 133,000 acres in Maryland. For more information, visit dnr.maryland.gov/met.