When plans were first drawn up for a trail system at the Curtis Farm Preserve, two loops were envisioned: one around the field and a second through the woods and along the shore. Trail construction – especially with an eye to habitat preservation – takes time, commitment and resources, not only to lay out the… Read more
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT) is pleased to announce its latest acquisition – The Salt Hay Preserve. Consisting of two tracts running along the west side of Harpswell Islands Road (Route 24) on Great Island near the Safe Harbor marina complex, Salt Hay includes slightly more than… Read more
Harpswell has an abundance of preserves and trails, some created after purchase or donation of the land, others the result of an easement on the rights for development of the land. But how might a property embark on this journey so well described by Mary Connolly in her series “When Land Becomes Part of a… Read more
Don’t forget your blaze orange! Recreational hunting is a respected tradition in Maine. Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT) is dedicated to providing public access to its preserves for many uses, including hunting, when appropriate. If you like to get outdoors during hunting season, we urge you (and your dogs) to wear blaze orange. In 2024, firearms… Read more
Why do we do It. Ask anyone participating in the hiking challenge why they do it and you will probably hear a wide range of responses. We do it to prove to ourselves that we have endurance. To make ourselves and others proud of our accomplishments. To test our navigation skills. To exercise and enjoy… Read more
I often wonder how the Land Trust’s trails come to be. Who figures out where they start, where they turn, and how long they are? And how do those decisions get made; what is influencing the trail designer, if in fact, there is such a thing as a trail designer? It turns out there is,… Read more
Explore, Play, Discover Take a step into the Forest Funzone and you will quickly discover that it is not a typical forest. It is much more. This is a place where all of our senses are invited to play. The elements and materials here provide inspiration for fun, connection, creativity, movement and discovery. Children experience… Read more
(When Land Becomes Part of a Land Trust — Part II) This is a story about a journey. A land’s journey. One with many heroes pursuing a common goal despite tough decisions and challenges. And as with every story, there is a beginning, middle and end. This one begins when an opportunity to conserve… Read more
Picture it: a tidal cove flanked by salt marshes, exposed mud flats at low tide, and osprey hunting when the tide is high. A place where horseshoe crabs spawn in May and June, where ferns and trout lilies carpet the woodland floor, and evergreens lean and spire toward sunlight. Breathe the mixed scent of pine… Read more
This article is part one of a three-part series. Sign up for our e-news to read the rest! Did you know that Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT) is one of 80 land trusts in the state and according to the Maine Land Trust Network, Maine has one of the lowest percentages of government-owned lands in… Read more