The Robert S. Hadleys Salt Meadow It began over a game of tennis. Peter Borgemeister, past president of the Land Trust and member of the acquisition committee, was on the court with Bob Hadley and between strokes the conversation turned to one of Peter's favorites, land. Bob mentioned that he and his wife, Ann, owned a parcel of salt meadow and had considered donating it to the Branford Land Trust. After a few more balls went over the net, a meeting was set to seriously discuss the donation process. Peter, Beth Dock, cochairman of the acquisition committee, and the Hadleys gathered for coffee on a bright autumn morning in the Hadley sun porch on Sunset Manor Road to discuss the mechanics of the gift transfer. The Hadleys should consult with their tax advisor or attorney as to tax advantages of such a charitable donation. Peter and Beth would seek approval of the acceptance of the gift from the rest of the acquisition committee and then from the board of directors of the Trust. Once that was done, the Trust would have a title search executed and would draw up a deed for signature. They then strolled down the road to view the site, a pristine, one acre piece of salt meadow clearly delineated by drainage ditches, situated in the center of a very healthy salt marsh off of Sunset Beach Road. The Land Trust owns a parcel of salt meadow on the south side of Summer Island Road, and a number of acres north of Pawson Road. Obtaining the acreage in the Sunset Beach Road area will hopefully encourage other landowners to also donate land, and gives the Trust a real presence in the region. The health of the entire salt meadow units can be watched, thus affording long term protection of those valuable breeding grounds for Long Island Sound, and the visual enjoyment of future generations of Branford citizens. Subsequently, organizational approvals granted, attorney Jim Perito, cochairman of the acquisition committee, drew up the deed transferring the Hadley property to the Trust, in late October. We welcome the Hadleys as life members of the Trust and are most grateful for their gift of this beautiful piece of property.