Strawberry Hill, in the town of Ipswich, offers scenic views of Plum Island Sound, habitat for declining populations of ground-nesting birds, and structures that capture the town's historic legacy. After a long multi-year campaign, in 2002 The Trust for Public Land, the town of Ipswich and the Department of Environmental Management, celebrated their success protecting this key parcel of open space.
With partial funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Town purchased 91 acres of the 106-acre property (also known as the Wendel Estate). The remaining 15-acre portion, which includes three historic buildings, was sold privately, but protected from future development by a conservation restriction held by the Town. An additional conservation restriction acquired by the Department of Environmental Management was placed on the acres still owned by the Town.
Strawberry Hill's historic legacy also remains intact through permanent historic preservation restrictions placed on the three first-period buildings-the Ross Tavern, Collins-Lord House, and Shotswell Cottage, requiring historically significant elements in both the interior and exterior of the building to be maintained permanently. Strawberry Hill lies adjacent to land owned by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and across the street from 213-acre Greenwood Farm, which is protected by The Trustees of Reservations.