| September 22, 2007 - Holcombe Memorial Garden Dedication Click to See Pictures The NFA wanted to remember Mrs. Josephine Holcombe who, upon her passing in 1997, generously left to the NFA her 89 acre property at and her primary residence located at 55 Great Hill Road, known as the Holcombe Hill and Wildlife Preserve. In addition to this gift Mrs. Holcombe previously donated to the NFA 62 acres in 1987 and 14 acres in 1966, collectively referred to as the Holcombe Preserve and Memorial Trail. As a token of respect for Mrs. Holcombe the NFA has planted a memorial garden in her honor on this 10-year anniversary. The NFA Board, Members and guest gathered at the top of what is commonly referred to as Holcombe Hill on Saturday, September 22, 2007 to dedicate the garden and remember Mrs. Holcombe. In addition to the dedication made by our President, Martha Wright, Doug Rogers (former Board Member and President and current Member) and Barbara Kershaw (NFA Member), trusted friends of Mrs. Holcombe, spoke of the times they spent with her and how she spoke so very fondly of this property. Some of her friends believed that Mrs. Holcombe might have been uncomfortable with this kind of attention but, that she would be proud of how the NFA has managed her legacy gifts. The Holcombe Memorial Garden is an exterior landscape project at our Newtown Forest Association headquarters to celebrate Mrs. Holcombe’ s legacy. The layout of this garden was based on the visionary plan created by Board Member, Bob Eckenrode. The goals for this project are similar to that which we try to accomplish with all of our properties: by preserving and sharing natural resources, and by providing opportunities for environmental education, including guided hikes and activities geared toward explaining the value of the natural world around us. The project will be completed in phases over the next several years. The Holcombe Memorial Garden will become a showcase for the environmental and aesthetic value of landscaping with native plants, complete with species and tree identification. One of the other objectives was to also use the plantings and design a garden that would help the buildings blend into their natural surroundings and the other buildings on Holcombe Hill. As many visitors observe, three of the four buildings on Holcombe Hill are surrounded by trees and other landscaping, however, our headquarters building sticks out as exposed and somewhat disconnected to each other and the environment. The design concept is based on Saturn and its rings. The NFA headquarters represents Saturn, while the radiating planting beds symbolize its rings. The design is both engaging and accessible with the intent to provide its visitors with an enhanced perspective of the property and all it has to offer. Each successive phase will complement that which has already been started. Holcombe Hill is the highest point in Newtown and the 2nd highest point in all of Fairfield County. Several weeks ago one person posted their geocaching visit to Holcombe Hill stating: “What an amazing view! What an amazing preserve. This is the kind of place that is hard to leave. Thanks for bringing us here! We will be back!” Comments such as this that make us reflect on how Mrs. Holcombe must have felt waking up every day on Holcombe Hill, and why it was so important to her to donate it to the NFA to be preserved for the community and friends to be enjoyed, experienced and appreciated in perpetuity. On behalf of the NFA Board, its Members, the Newtown community at large and all the visitors to these donated properties we want to thank and express our eternal gratitude to Mrs. Holcombe. Click to see some pictures Back to News Index |
Whispers in the Forest
Newtown Forest Association
Connecticut's Oldest Private Land Trust
Connecticut's Oldest Private Land Trust
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