The town of Tolland has seen phenomenal growth in the last 20 years. However , with booming residential development , many local residents became concerned that the rural character of the town was at risk of disappearing forever .

In the late 1990 s , Roseann Kellner Gottier , whose great-grandparents grew up in town , began seeking out other individuals who were also interested in conserving the land in the area . “ We saw that not enough was being done to maintain the balance with dramatic development , ” said Gottier .

In 2000 , they founded Conserving Tolland , a non-partisan , grassroots organization . “ We wanted to find a way to buy land at market value from landowners , ” Gottier said . That same year, the organization collected 800 signatures during a petition drive to request a referendum that would enable the town to purchase land or development rights .

Since that time , Conserving Tolland has been active in preserving land by helping to raise $ 2 million through each of three separate referenda . In 2006 , the group won the Conservation Group of the Year award from the Joshua Land Trust .

The town has received $ 1 . 9 million in matching state and federal grants . “ In 2009 , we would like to ask the town to bond another $ 1 million , ” said Treasurer Gigi Broderick . “ If youalready have funds earmarked for open land acquisition or the like , the town can seize the land when it becomes available . ”

The town council , in response to town sentiment , has purchased more than 1 , 000 acres of land . Some landowners have also chosen to donate their land for permanent protection . They agree to a conservation easement that allows them to limit the type or amount of development on their property , while retaining private ownership of the land .

The Palmers have owned property in Tolland for 60 yearsand have seen many changes in town since Sugar Hill Road was just a narrow , dirt road . As increasingly more houses filled land across town , the Palmers became interested in preserving 70 acres of their land for their grandchildren to walk on . “ We had property that we didn’t want builders building on , and we made a plan not to sell it to the town , ” said Barbara Palmer . “ It seemed so important for our children and others to enjoy the land as we did growing up . ”

The Palmers were one of the families honored by Conserving Tolland at its “ Heritage Land Family Legacy Award” events . A couple of yearsago , the organization started giving out the awards to “ honor those who chose to conserve their land in town , ” said Gottier .

Town resident Jack Broderick has done a 20 ”x 40 ” original , oil painting of The Palmer Homestead , Sugar Hill Road . The painting is currently on display at Rockville Bank in Tolland and will move to NewAlliance Bank in Tolland later in the month . It will be offered as the first prize in the raffle drawing to be held on Nov . 22 at 11 a . m . on the Tolland Green . Second and third prizes are a signed print of the painting . The winners need not be present to win . Tickets are $ 10 and can be purchased at The Homestead on the Green or by contacting any Conserving Tolland board member .

“ Proceeds will benefit Conserving Tolland , now a non-profit organization , ” said Broderick . The raffle will help to fund citizen outreach , as well as offset the costs of bringing in tax experts and lawyers for the seminars the organization holds to teach landowners how to preserve and conserve their land .

Conservation Tolland regularly holds events to promote land conservation . They have educational activities like a recent lecture , in which a woman from the Connecticut Audubon Society introduced an owl and other live birds of prey to guests , who were then taken out into the dark to practice owl calls .

During the week of Oct . 18 , Conserving Tolland will be holding four hikes . On Oct . 18 , at 10 a . m ., there will be a yogahike at Shafran Conservation Area , and at 2 p . m ., a scavenger hunt is scheduled at Campbell Peaceful Valley . At the same location , on Sunday , Oct . 19 , there will be another hike at 2 p . m . Earlier in the day , at 11 a . m ., a llama walk is scheduled at Crandall Park . At this family walk , all are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes .

For more information , visit the Web site http : // www . conservingtollandct . org / .