Why Conserve?
“This corner of the state continues to experience great development pressures and much of the easy to develop lands are already lost. Now the interior, harder to develop, more risky sites are under attack, many of which are key properties located in the remaining large unfragmented blocks or in areas that scientific research has identified as key linkages.” - Phil Auger, founding member
“This property has been in my family since 1765. It was my grandmother's wish and my mother's wish after her to preserve the land in its entirety. Much of the land went into conservation in the 90's and I am grateful to Bear Paw and the town of Deerfield Conservation Commission for working with me to conserve the last part of the land. It is an important connection in the Great Brook corridor and contains soils with significant farming value. Good for growing food instead of houses!” – Gile Beye, Deerfield
April Bacon has lived on her easement property since the mid-eighties after leaving the life of an artist and social worker in New York City. Memories of her rural childhood in Maine drew her back to New England, but, as she said, "It's all grown up around Gorham where I lived, and I wanted somewhere undeveloped and natural, and to make sure it would stay that way!" The public may enjoy passive use of her woods for non-motorized activities such as hiking, bird watching, or educational field trips. Bear-Paw thanks April Bacon and the town of Nottingham for this important addition to the local greenway.
“I see land as part of a larger ecological system. I donated my property as potential "starter dough" for what I believe to be an important wildlife corridor connecting Bear Brook State Park with lands to the north. I am grateful that the conservation interests in the region are working to protect a functional green infrastructure while there still is time to do so.” – Kate Hartnett, Deerfield
Corey Colwell worked with the Strafford Planning and Zoning Boards to conserve 150 acres of the property. His conservation easement became Bear-Paw's first in 1998. Aside from the forest, wildlife, and scenic values of the Colwell easement itself, the property abuts the 600-acre Strafford Town Forest lands, which in turn link to the vast acreage of the Blue Hills Trust properties. This parcel is within one of the top ten unfragmented forest blocks in the Bear-Paw region, providing roadless areas for wildlife to thrive. Bear-Paw thanks Corey Colwell once again for an easement that builds an important network of conservation lands.