The Trustees of Reservations
Celebrate Spring with a Free Open House at Castle Hill on The Crane Estate
Sunday, May 2nd
Tree planting, lawn games, Maypole dance, refreshments, self-guided tours, and more!

WHAT: In celebration of spring, The Trustees of Reservations invite you to our 2nd Annual, FREE Spring Open House at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate to enjoy a day of fun.  Plant a seedling and help us recover some of the hundreds of trees lost in the recent nor’easter.

Pack a picnic and we’ll provide lawn games such as croquet and bocce ball, a Maypole dance, self-guided tours of the Great House and grounds, refreshments, and more.  Please feel free to bring friends and family, but leave furry friends at home.

WHERE: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate is located at 290 Argilla Road in Ipswich. For directions and or more information, please visit this website, or call 978.356-4351.

WHEN: Sunday, May 2nd from 11:00AM – 5:00PM

WHY: The Open House thanks the public for its support of The Trustees’ ongoing restoration of the Castle Hill grounds, which in recent years has included historic plantings and restorations of the Italian Garden and the Great House forecourt. This February, The Trustees began the first phase of a 3-year renovation plan of the Grand Allee, the one-half mile long, undulating, grassy lawn framed by classical sculptures, Norway spruce, and pine hedgerows. Phase One of the project includes the removal of approximately 150 trees and the planting of 65 7-foot Norway spruce and White Pines.

The Allee Restoration was disrupted by the late February nor’easter that wreaked havoc on the North Shore. Castle Hill was hit particularly hard, with more than 300 trees coming down in the storm. Crews worked tirelessly to clean up the property and make it safe for the public. Much work, including replanting trees and stabilizing stripped embankments, remains. The Trustees invite the public to help by planting seedlings in celebration of spring at the May 2nd Open House.

About The Crane Estate
The seaside Crane Estate is owned and cared for by The Trustees of Reservations, the nation’s oldest statewide land trust and conservation organization with 100 beautiful reservations located around the state, 20 of which are on Boston’s North Shore.  More than 250,000 people from New England and beyond visit the historic Crane Estate year-round to experience its unrivaled beauty, swim at its world-famous beach, paddle in its breathtaking waters and surrounding salt marsh, and enjoy its historic Great House, Inn, lawn, and gardens.

The Crane Estate encompasses more than 2,200 preserved acres that include: The Great House on Castle Hill, a National Historic Landmark; Crane Beach, a popular summer destination; The Inn at Castle Hill, a renowned B&B; and the Crane Wildlife Refuge, a unique natural treasure boasting many plant and animal species.

Chicago industrialist Richard T. Crane, Jr. first purchased the 2,200 acres that would become the Crane Estate in 1910.  Crane was captivated by the beautiful landscape, and, over time, worked with eight leading architects and landscape architects to shape his summer retreat.  In 1929, he crowned the estate with a grand mansion designed by the world- renowned David Adler. Nearly 100 years later, the Crane Estate plays a vital role in the local community and beyond as a place for year-round recreation, historic house tours, weddings, private parties, art shows, annual concerts and events, movie filming, a new summer camp, and much more.

The Trustees of Reservations Statewide
The Trustees are 100,000 people like you who love the outdoors and the distinctive charms of New England, and believe in celebrating and protecting them for current and future generations. Founded by open space visionary Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees “hold in trust,” and care for, 101 spectacular “reservations” located on 26,000 acres in 73 communities throughout Massachusetts. All reservations are open for the public to enjoy and range from working farms and historic homesteads – several of which are National Historic Landmarks – to formal gardens, barrier beaches, open meadows, woodland trails, mountain vistas, and a Gold LEED-certified green building in Leominster, the Doyle Center, which serves as a meeting space and gathering place for the conservation community.

Offering hundreds of programs, workshops, lectures, and activities throughout the year for all ages, most of which are free-of-charge or discounted for members, The Trustees are also a leader in the conservation movement and have served as a model for other land trusts nationally and internationally. With communities and conservation partners, The Trustees work to address and support important conservation issues and efforts across the Commonwealth. In addition, The Trustees hold conservation restrictions on more than 16,000 acres of privately owned land and, with our partners, have assisted in the protection of an additional 16,000 acres.

As land and special places continue to be developed and open space is being fragmented at a rapid pace across the Commonwealth, time is running out to save the best of Massachusetts’ landscapes and landmarks. To find out how you can protect or preserve a special place in your community, become a partner, request a speaker, and/or become a Trustee through your volunteer, donor or membership contributions, please call 781.784.0567, visit www.thetrustees.org , or email membership@ttor.org.

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