Our Sanctuaries

Meadow Lane, West Barnstable, Massachusetts, 5 acres – 1998 Orenda’s Smith’s Dock Sanctuary is a peaceful spot with an impressive view. It’s habitat for the Northern Diamondback Terrapin Turtle. This beautiful Sanctuary is one of only 17 places within Massachusetts where these threatened turtles can be found. Terrapin Turtles nest only in brackish water, in…

Quashnet River Sanctuary, Mashpee, 18 acres – 2001 Orenda’s Quashnet River Sanctuary was purchased in March 2001. The entire acquisition included 18 acres encompassing over 2,000 feet along the Quashnet River in Mashpee in the Mashpee national Wildlife Refuge. Orenda retained the four acres to the north of Route 151 and worked out a plan…

Nalebuff Sanctuary, Falmouth, Half Acre – 1996 This more than half-acre property with oak and pine trees is on a small peninsula in the Waquoit area of Falmouth, in an otherwise residential area bordering the Child’s River. The donors volunteered to act as stewards for this sanctuary, which is across the street from their home.…

Mary De La Vallette Sanctuary, Phillipston, Massachusetts, 46 Acres – 1994 Because he was interested in maintaining the integrity of the wildlife habitat and was concerned about the recent development in the Phillipston area, the donor decided to donate this property to Orenda in 1994. This sanctuary includes woodlands, small swamps and streams, and deer,…

The Ledges, Southbridge, Massachusetts, 4 acres – 1986 Even smaller sanctuaries serve an important purpose. The Ledges Sanctuary provides critical protection for a public water supply, and sanctuary for forested habitat. This was the first parcel of land ever protected by Orenda. Visitors enjoy a lovely view from the top of Mt. Dan.

The David Nelson Sanctuary, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 14.5 Acres – 1991 Once a hunting retreat, the donor, David Nelson, now deceased, willed Orenda this lakeside 14.5-acre gem on the edge of Great Herring Pond. Under the terms of his estate, no hunting or fishing is allowed. The Sanctuary contains an oak and pine-dominated forest, a briar-tangled…

261 Rock Harbor Road, Orleans and Eastham, Massachusetts, 8.5 acres – 2010 This 8.5 acre sanctuary is located in both Orleans and Eastham and is a portion an estate that had been in the donor’s family for over 350 years. Both parcels are in the Boat Meadow Creek vicinity and provide salt marsh habitat for…

Bay Lane, Centerville, Massachusetts, 2.2 acres – 1992 This more than 2 acre sanctuary resides in an Aquifer Protection Overlay District, a designation designed to protect ground water on Scudder Bay in Osterville. The upland portion of property has a mixture of oaks and maples with dense, shrubby groundcover and is surrounded by a salt…

Brewster, Massachusetts, 27 acres – 1996 Named for the clean, three-acre pond — one of the steepest kettlehole ponds on the Cape — that it borders, No Bottom Pond sanctuary includes over 27 acres of undeveloped natural woodland. Orenda purchased this property in 1996 in part because it has been classified as a rare and…

Mashpee River Woodlands Sanctuary, Mashpee, 2 acres – 1999 Originally donated by a realty company, this 2 acre sanctuary of oak and pine forest was dedicated to the memory of Bill Conley, a long-time friend and active member of Orenda in 1999. The property is adjacent to a large tract of Town of Mashpee conservation…