NORTON - A town nonprofit conservation group's holdings grew by more than five acres on Cross Street this spring during a town auction of foreclosed land.

Land Preservation Society of Norton Co-President Frances Shirley said the site abuts other land her group owns, as well as private property with conservation restrictions.

The conservation group seeks to "avoid fragmentation wherever possible," Shirley said.

"Little one- to two-pieces of conservation land aren't very helpful in the middle of developments," she said.

A wooded area with wetlands, the Cross Street property runs in part to the Rumford River, Shirley said. The town sold the site for $12,960 during a May 29 auction that netted Norton about $132,000 for capital improvements and returned more than a dozen properties to the town's tax rolls.

The transactions were recorded July 16, according to Banker & Tradesman.

Shirley said a Land Preservation Society supporter bought the Cross Street site and donated it to the conservation group. She declined to identify the donor.

MICHAEL GELBWASSER covers Norton for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.