The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is the best way to explore the pure, natural beauty of the island. The Foundation oversees quiet, hidden beaches, wildflower-filled fields, and beautiful wooded areas. Pack your tennis shoes—it’s time to explore our island in the sea.
Everything You Need to Know About the Nantucket Conservationa Foundation
The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is responsible for the care and upkeep of the island’s most beautiful natural habitats. The Foundation has the unique opportunity to protect endangered pieces of the island while still allowing guests to visit. Discover all of Nantucket’s wonders during your next visit!
A Few of the Most Popular Nantucket Conservation Foundation Properties
The Nantucket Conservation manages 15 unique properties across 9,000 acres. Habitat types and properties range in variety at the Foundation, including barrier dunes, salt marshes, bogs, open grasslands, pitch pine barrens, and woodlands. They genuinely have a little bit of everything the island has to offer.
Coatue
The Coatue Wildlife Refuge is an off-the-beaten-path barrier beach. (It’s also one of Tuckernuck founder Jocelyn Gaiilot’s favorite places on Nantucket.) Head here for clamming, four-wheel driving on soft-sand roads, and the wildlife, including numerous rare plants and birds.
Milestone Cranberry Bog
Commercial cranberry growing has been a vital part of Nantucket’s agricultural heritage for nearly two centuries. During cranberry season, which runs from Labor Day to the middle of November, the island produces over two million pounds of berries. Visit one of 24 bogs, where you’ll find the freshest berries throughout the season.
Middle Moors
At 100 feet above sea level, the Middle Moors is one of the island’s highest elevation points. On a clear day, you’ll get amazing views of Coatue, Sankaty Head Light, and ‘Sconset Village. While Nantucket is known for its stunning beaches, the Middle Mores contain over 400 acres of an endless plain known as “the Serengeti.”
Find a guide to the foundation’s 15 properties on the conservation’s website.
Island Stewardship
The Nantucket Conservation Foundation has a dedicated team that assists in land management and conservation. From farmers to rangers to veterinarians, each person plays a vital role in protecting the island’s most vulnerable areas.
The Foundation consistently manages ongoing research projects to help grow knowledge of the island and preserve it. Current projects include salt marsh restoration, spotted turtle monitoring, and horseshoe crab surveys.
Nantucket Conservation Foundation Events
Join the Conservation for one of their annual events. The Race for Open Space is a race benefiting the Land Fund. The scenic race path includes a two-mile walk, 5K race, and 10K race. The Nantucket Cranberry Festival has been around for the past 16 years. It consists of cranberry farming history, an array of cranberry treats, and a chance to harvest the berries for yourself.
Check out the complete list of Nantucket Conservation Foundation events.
Book Your Next Stay at Greydon House
After exploring the beauty of the island, come back to the beauty of Greydon House. Enjoy gorgeous furnishings by Roman and Williams, reclaimed chestnut floors, hand-painted Dutch and Moroccan tiled showers, and Sony 4K TVs.