The Butler Grants of Development Rights and Conservation Restrictions was originally granted by Lawrence and Ruth Butler to Middlebury Area Land Trust in June of 1991. The protected property under conservation easement encompasses 27.44 acres in Middlebury, and another 23.12 acres in New Haven, and is situated along both sides of Cobble Road in Middlebury. A larger parcel was divided into nine house lots and the remaining land, most of which is farmland, is protected. It is owned collectively by the farmer and the house lot owners, who share responsibility for upholding the easement.

 The land under easement is primarily open agricultural fields with some wooded sections to the east.  The fields are transected by Cobble Road, going from east to west along the Middlebury/New Haven town line. In the wooded area, is a moss-covered outcrop where a somewhat rare walking fern (Asplenium rhizophyllum or Camptosorus rhizophyllus) can be found.

This easement lies within the vicinity of four easements held by the Vermont Land Trust. Scenic vistas of the Bristol Cliffs Wilderness area and Green Mountain National Forest are viewable from the property and are especially dramatic due to their proximity.