Help Conserve
Hicks Farm
We have raised 67% of our fundraising goal! Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far, including the Tiverton Open Space Commission for committing $1 million and RI DEM for a $500,000 grant.
Last updated: May 2026
Conserve Green-Space for All in Perpetuity
Hicks Farm is situated in a rapidly urbanizing and underserved area of town where there is little public green-space and only private access to Mount Hope Bay. The 48.8-acre parcel is situated in a designated walkable community zone, near the Pocasset Elementary School.
We have until September 2027 to meet our fundraising goal of $2.7 million, and we are already more than halfway there!
Photographed by Clint Clemens
For almost 300 years (since ~1732) the Hicks Farm property has been under the stewardship of the Hicks family, and the extended family now seeks to ensure that the land be conserved as public green-space. It is miraculous that this historically farmed landscape, crisscrossed by stonewalls, still exists undeveloped and available for conservation.
You can help us continue the legacy of land conservation in Tiverton. Keep reading to discover why this is so important, and how you can contribute to this initiative.
Development pressures in Tiverton are accelerating, making this conservation effort increasingly critical.
In March 2025, the South Coast Rail project restored commuter rail service to Boston from Fall River, New Bedford, and East Taunton making Tiverton even more desirable for further development. In fact, six potential developments that comprise at least 810 new housing units are currently under review by the Tiverton Planning Board. Most of the above units are slated for northern Tiverton.
Easy Access to Nature for Children at Pocasset School
The Pocasset Elementary School lies a few blocks to the northeast with only a playground and a few small athletic fields. Proximity to Hicks Farm would create an easily accessible field trip destination, where students can learn about and experience nature. Tiverton recently closed Fort Barton Elementary School, causing an increase in the number of students served by the Pocasset School, all of whom could benefit from exploratory outings to Hicks Farm.
A Surprise Haven Amid Urban Density
A rare 17-acre stand of late successional New England mixed hardwoods includes red, black and white oaks, pignut hickory, red maple, sassafras, black gum, and a stand of towering big-tooth aspen. Canopy openings and rocky outcrops add the biodiversity of early successional species—gray birch, red cedar, black cherry, huckleberry, and highbush blueberry. A small stream meandering downslope reveals a shady, fern-sprinkled understory and mini-wetland. The property sits strategically in the Atlantic Flyway, supporting a variety of migrating song and seabirds. This parcel is ripe for research projects with universities, including Roger Williams University with whom we already partner.
Shoreline Access with Uninterrupted Views
Hicks Farm’s preeminent ecological value is its 1320-foot pristine shoreline in a heavily urbanized area. As you embark through the forest towards shore, you will feel the pleasantly salty breeze and notice the shimmering water peeking through the trees. When standing on its wrack line one can enjoy the solace of a salt water bay bounded by green shores, an uninhibited view of Mt. Hope, and the peaceful lap of waves. The rocky beach precludes extensive salt marsh vegetation which simplifies planning for recreational use and long-term beach management, making water access almost immediate.
Your Voice and Support Matters
Share your enthusiasm by spreading the word
Encourage others to join in your support of this project
Provide generous financial support
HOW TO DONATE TO THIS CAUSE:
Donate online by clicking “Give Today” at the top right corner of our home page. There will be an option to specify if you would like your donation to be allocated directly to conserve Hicks Farm before entering your payment information.
Checks can be made out to Tiverton Land Trust with the memo “Hicks Farm" and mailed to: PO Box 167, Tiverton RI, 02878
Words from our community members
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Share your thoughts about Hicks Farm with us!
Email info@tivertonlandtrust.org and we would be happy to add your quote here if you are open to sharing it.
Ready to experience the beauty of Hicks Farm firsthand? Check out our Events page for upcoming walks, or email us to inquire about coordinating a private walk together.
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Thanks to the generosity and foresight of the Hicks family, and the hard work of many including TLT, we have a rare opportunity to preserve this place. We all know that once land like this is lost, it’s lost forever. But by working together — with financial support and community commitment — Hicks Farm can endure as the remarkable and irreplaceable landscape it has always been.
Jaime Worrell, former TLT Board Member
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Each time I walk this land I marvel how miraculous it is that this place persists. Thanks to the Hicks family we can step back in time from the diesel and asphalt of Main Road today to the heroic laneways, tranquil fields, soaring trees and undisturbed shoreline of the 1700’s in just a few minutes. It’s breathtaking actually.
Robert Sarno, TLT Board Member
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"Finally after 30 years, there’s an opportunity to preserve this incredible forest and shoreline in northern Tiverton. Every preservation organization is in favor of the project—the Town Open Space Commission, Tiverton Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and the State. But, it will take more to close the deal, so 'we the people' simply must seize this last chance to protect the one green jewel left in the north end. It’s Carpe Diem time folks."
Garry Plunkett, devoted volunteer
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"Protecting open space in heavily urbanized areas is always important. However, having grown up in the north end of Tiverton and a former student of Pocasset elementary, the idea that the future generation would have the opportunity to use this open space excites me."
Matt Potvin, Tiverton Resident & Ecologist
FAQs
Have questions about conserving Hicks Farm? Check out these FAQ’s and feel free to reach out to info@tivertonlandtrust.org!
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The total cost of conservation is $2.7 million. The Town of Tiverton has already agreed to contribute $1 million. We have also received a grant from RIDEM for $500,000, a $50,000 grant from the Bafflin Foundation. and have raised over $200,000 in donations.
This leaves $950,000 left to raise between now and September 2027.
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These funds will be raised through a combination of state grants, public and private foundations, and donations from local businesses, corporations, residents and other individuals passionate about conserving green space.
We will need to come together as a community to make this happen, so spread the word!
If you have grant writing experience, are a business owner or representative for a corporation that is interested in contributing, or have other skills/connections that may be able to support this cause, please contact us: info@tivertonlandtrust.org.
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If conserved, the 48.8 acres of field, forest and 1320 ft of waterfront will be accessible to all in perpetuity. It will provide passive recreational opportunities in a highly developed area, such as trail walking/hiking, birdwatching, and shoreline access for swimming and relaxing.
The property will also provide ample habitat for flora and fauna, supporting biodiversity research for local universities such as Roger Williams who we currently collaborate with.
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We are excited to be hosting walks through the property. If you would like to join us for one of these walks, please register here as space is limited: https://forms.gle/JvZ7aox2KBzKDcDi9
If you are unable to join a group walk or missed the available dates, contact info@tivertonlandtrust.org and we can try to arrange a walk with you.