With the New Year underway, the Rochester Land Trust has plans to acquire some new property in town. To help the Land Trust, an anonymous Rochester family has donated a matching grant for new membership.

For every $20 the Land Trust collects for a new membership in 2013, the family will donate $100 to the group.

The only condition of the grant, which could provide up to $5,000, is that new members not have family already in the Land Trust.

News of the grant came in December and was a welcome boost to the group’s plans to purchase more land, said member Laurene Gerrior.

“People in Rochester have always been very good to us,” Gerrior said. “It’s amazing.”

The Land Trust has seen its membership continue to grow over the years.

To date, there are 280 members and more local residents have expressed interest in joining, Gerrior said.

As for acquiring more property, the Land Trust is aiming to purchase 18 acres in town.

Last year, the Land Trust did not purchase any new land. Instead, the group focused on maintaining the seven properties it currently owns as well as eight properties with conservation restrictions.

“Last year was a year of catching up for us,” Gerrior said. “We wanted to make sure the lands we already own are in a good place and cared for.”

With its properties in good shape, the Land Trust is aiming to finalize its first land purchase of 2013 soon, Gerrior said.

To become a member, checks can be sent for at least $20 to Rochester Land Trust P.O. Box 337, Rochester, MA.