UVLT Cornish Conservation Project Supports Scenic Byway

John and Linda Hammond of Cornish have conserved their 25 acres of productive agricultural land and nearly a half-mile of Connecticut River frontage in an area known to support the endangered dwarf wedge mussel.  The Hammonds’ historic farm - where they operate North Star Canoe & Kayak Rentals - stretches along Route 12A, a key part of the Connecticut River Byway.  This property and the adjacent UVLT conserved King Elm Farm include over 1.25 miles of shoreline along the Connecticut River, and over 2.6 miles of scenic frontage along Route 12A and the Amtrak Vermonter railroad line.  Funding for this conservation effort came from the National Scenic Byways Program, administered by the NH Department of Transportation, and a generous grant from the Town of Cornish Conservation Fund.

Membership Matters!  Winner of Killdeer Farm Gift Certificate

Thank you to the nearly 800 people who made a donation to UVLT this past Fiscal Year.  Your support provides the annual funding for our work.  We held a raffle for gifts made in the month of June, the final month of the Fiscal Year, and we have a winner!  Congratulations Kevin Comeau - you have won a gift certificate to Killdeer Farm!

Lyme Hill Conservation Area’s ‘New Look’ for Summer

A group of 20+ volunteers from Hypertherm put in a day of blazing trees, mounting new trail signs, clearing trail debris, improving drainage, creating stable tread ways, and installing benches at UVLT’s Lyme Hill Conservation Area last month.  The group split into four crews and spread out over the entire trail network to give the whole place ‘top to bottom’ improvements just in time for summer!  The crews finished work that would have taken UVLT’s Stewardship staff many days to complete on their own.  Check out our Facebook photo album of their hard work. Don’t hesitate to head out and take a look for yourself!  Use the logbook to tell us what you think.  Our favorite additions are the Aldo Leopold benches – perfect places to take a moment to relax and enjoy being outside. 

Restored LCHIP Funds Can Help Upper Valley Land Conservation

Now that funding has been restored for NH’s Land and Community Heritage Program (LCHIP), UVLT is preparing for renewed availability of grant funds.  Potential UVLT applications include: forest and wildlife habitat in Orford, and farmland in Piermont, Plainfield, and Claremont. In recent years, LCHIP’s grant-making had been stymied when legislators diverted its revenues to the State's general fund. The new two-year budget puts the dedicated funds back in place and creates new opportunities to conserve land and community heritage.

Volunteer Monitoring 101 Lesson Eight: The Personal Goal “Exam”

With a new Fiscal Year underway and the completion of her second year at UVLT, Programs Coordinator Anna Slack found herself taking some time to reflect.  Where did she stand with her personal goals?  The answer was clear, in terms of monitoring anyway, she was falling short.  Why?  Click here to find out and to see the challenges and rewards of facing her ‘Personal Goal Exam’.

Upcoming Events 

Weekend Wander   
Saturday July 20th, 10am

The Upper Valley is a unique and inspiring place and one way to experience this is by spending time outside.  Join UVLT’s Anna Slack for a short hike and reflection at UVLT’s Sleeper’s Meadow Trail.  We’ll gather at the trailhead to learn about the history of the property, then we’ll make our way up the trail at an easy pace.  Once we reach a good stopping point we’ll pause for a quiet interlude where all are encouraged to write, draw, meditate, or experience the time as they wish.  After about 20-30 minutes there will be an opportunity to share our impressions. 

Whether you keep a regular journal, take photos for fun, or are interested in experiencing a quiet “time-out” you are welcome to come along. 

There is limited parking at the trailhead so you can meet Anna at the Bradford Park & Ride off of I-91 between 9 and 9:30am to carpool. 

RSVP to Anna Slack at anna.slack@uvlt.org or 603-643-6626 x102 for information and directions.  *Heavy rain/thunder will cancel.*

Stargazing at Wild Apple Farm
August 1 – 9, Date TBD by weather
8:30pm – 11pm

Come explore the night sky with us on this beautiful tucked-away farm!  Wild Apple Farm is a 560-acre UVLT-conserved property located on Wild Apple Road in Pomfret, VT. 

This event is hosted by Wild Apple Farm and led by Horizons Observatory Co-Directors Rob Hanson and Scott Holson.

RSVPs are requested, to see how and read more about this event click here!

Celebrating People and Place at UVLT’s Annual Meeting

The Upper Valley Land Trust’s annual celebration of land conservation drew nearly 120 people to Farrell Farm early last month.  We shared the accomplishments of the year, elected four new Trustees to the Board of Directors, and honored three very special volunteers.

We thank our donors, partners, and volunteers for helping to make this event a success: Farrell Farm and Bob Sherwin, Killdeer Farm and Jake Guest, 4Corners Farm,  Winsome Farm, Edgewater Farm, Bob Sandberg, Hanover Lions Club, Rory Gawler, Nathan Hamm, Pete Gadomski, Dan Freihofer, Colatina Bakery, Laura Stillson, June Hemberger,  Bob Wetzel, Bill Stillson, Jim Reynolds, Tom Ciardelli, Brenda Frost, Chuck Wooster, Farm-way and Paul Gallerani, Erica Hinck, Skip Brown, Chris Nesbitt, and others!

19 Buck Road | Hanover, NH 03755 US