DeNormandie Woods/Long Hill

In January 2025, Greenbelt successfully acquired 330 acres in Gloucester and Manchester, finalizing the DeNormandie Woods/Long Hill Conservation Project. This acquisition preserves vital natural habitats, an established trail network, and key watershed lands, ensuring they remain protected from development.

Part of a 1,400-acre expanse of protected forestland spanning the Manchester, Essex, and Gloucester municipal lines, these 330 acres are an unusually large stretch of undeveloped land in this area.

In the late 1990s, the community united to protect part of what was then known as the Long Hill project. This campaign now seeks to finalize the acquisition and ensure the permanent protection of the DeNormandie land.

The DeNormandie Woods Conservation Project included Long Hill and links together City of Gloucester drinking water supply land, conservation land owned by the Town of Manchester, and parcels owned by Greenbelt and Manchester Essex Conservation Trust. 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this conservation initiative, including our dedicated partners, donors, and the entire community. Together, we’ve ensured the lasting protection of this vital land, preserving it for future generations and maintaining its ecological integrity for all to enjoy.

• Protects an existing, expansive trail network that connects Hooper Trask in the south to Cranberry Pond and Mount Ann in the north. Broad cart paths and twisty singletrack trails are all well-maintained and beloved by local hikers and mountain bikers.
• Ensures watershed protection, encompassing the headwaters of both Cat Brook and Wolf Trap Brook.
• Safeguards natural habitat, as identified by the Commonwealth as BioMap 3 Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape.
• Protects land identified by The Nature Conservancy as among the most resilient to the effects of climate change from being developed.