There are 107 acres of land owned by the Rochester Land Trust open to the public. Of those acres nearly half came courtesy of one man – George Church.

He was a Rochester native who loved the town’s rural character. On July 31, he passed away, but not before he left a legacy of conservation.

“What really impressed me is that he and his wife felt so strongly about protecting the rural nature of Rochester that they gave their land for future generations to enjoy,” said Halima Tiffany, land trust president.

In 2010, he sold 32 acres of land adjacent to his home on Mattapoisett Road for $110,000.

“That price was definitely below market value,” Tiffany said. “From my perspective he could have sold the land to a private developer. He didn’t and that speaks volumes about the kind of man he was.”

Known as Church’s Field, the area is a popular walking spot with trails that lead to the Mattapoisett River.

When the parcel was first opened, Church allowed land trust members and guests to use a building on his property for the celebration.

“We went in and set up tables and arranged for refreshments,” Tiffany said. “He didn’t have to let us do that but he did.”

A second parcel of land, the Church Wildlife Conservation Area, was sold to the trust in 2007. Located on Route 105, the 20-acre property has a trail loop and features views of cranberry bogs.

In total, the land trust has preserved 450 acres, but 362 of those acres are held under conservation restrictions on private property. The restrictions are a legal agreement between a property owner and a conservation agency that limit development.

Generally, houses and roads can’t be built, but logging and recreation use may be permitted. But the land isn’t open to the public.

Church’s support of the land trust had been a huge boost in the eyes of the community, Tiffany said.

“He had a great reputation. When someone like George Church publicly donated to the land trust people took notice,” she said. “It makes them think we’re doing something worthwhile.”