 Stonehouse
Pond Property Hike
Saturday,
May 16, 2009
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
(Rain date: Sunday, May 17th same time)
The Strafford Rivers Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land
invite you to join us for a morning hike at the spectacular Stonehouse
Pond property. Project staff will describe the conservation project
and campaign goals. Come hike and learn how to get involved in helping
save this natural treasure! Lunch will be served under the trees
at noon. Box lunch provided by the SRC & TPL.
Surveying
101: The Science, Art and Legal Dimensions of Land Surveys
Saturday, May 9
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Durham and Lee
What
do surveyors do and how do they do it? What information can you
find on a survey plan and how do you interpret it? Landowners, Conservation
Commission and Planning Board members, natural resource professionals
and others who have an interest in property boundaries or use survey
maps will gain a greater understanding of how surveys are conducted
and how to interpret the results. Bob Moynihan, professor of surveying
at the UNH Thompson School, will present this four-hour workshop,
which will include two hours of classroom activities at UNH followed
by two hours of outdoor activities on the Ford property in Lee,
which was recently conserved by a conservation easement easement.
Registration is $5 for Members of the Strafford Rivers Conservancy
and $10 for non-members. This program is funded in part by the New
England Grassroots Environment Fund.
NH’s
Water Resources Plan
Tuesday, April 28
7:00-9:00 pm
NH Fish & Game Conference Room, Durham
New
Hampshire’s economic well-being, public health, and quality
of life depend on the sustainable management of water resources.
Consequently, the state is developing a plan to better manage and
protect this significant resource. This meeting with NH Dept. of
Environmental Services staff, NH Representative Judith Spang and
Michelle Daley, Associate Director of UNH’s Water Resources
Research Center, is an opportunity for you to learn more about the
state’s water resources and to provide input into the plan.
Registration
is free. All are welcome. This program is funded in part by the
New England Grassroots Environment Fund.
Woodcock
Courtship
Tuesday, April 14 or Thursday, April 16
6:30-8:00 pm
Aikman Easement, Rollinsford
Spring
is in the air and New Hampshire’s woodcock are feeling romantic.
Join Strafford Rivers Conservancy President Kevin McEneaney for
an informal gathering to watch for woodcock courtship rituals at
the Aikman conservation easement in Rollinsford. The woodcock dance
has been described as “one of the grandest spectacles of nature.”
The program is limited to 10 people and will be cancelled in case
of rain. Please indicate which night you would like to attend when
you register. Waterproof footwear and dark clothing are recommended.
Children that are able stand still and stay quiet for an hour are
welcome. Registration is free. This program is funded in part by
the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.
Who's
Coming to Dinner? Understanding Habitat and How to Improve it for
Wildlife and People
Wednesday, March 4, 6:15-8:00 pm
Rochester Public Library – Community Room
Looking
for ways to make your yard more attractive to wildlife? Jon Batson,
professional landscaper, presented ideas about what a habitat is,
how you might improve the habitat value of your property and help
fit your yard into the larger landscape. He also discussed the habitat
value of specific plants and ways to make your yard more attractive
to wildlife. Jon Batson, President of the NH Landscape Association,
is the owner of Jenesis Gardens and Design and volunteers as a Community
Tree Steward. This event was free and open to the public. This program
was funded in part by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.
| Snowshoe
on Newly Conserved Lavender Property
Saturday, January 24, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Brookfield
and Wakefield
A
good group joined us for a winter snowshoe on 200 acres of
varied habitat that includes a reclaimed gravel pit, forests,
fields and wetlands. Matt Chagnon, UNH Professor of Forest
Technology, lead the walk and discussed the property’s
natural resource features. This property, owned by Tom and
Dulcie Lavender, was recently conserved by two conservation
easements. The walk was co-sponsored by the Strafford Rivers
Conservancy and Moose Mountains Regional Greenways
|
Twenty-eight
people enjoyed the fresh snow and clear skies as they snowshoed
across the 200-acre Lavender property.
|
| 
Peter
and Thelma Thompson shared their expertise in geology at the
parcel preserved by the Goodwill easement on Richardson Pond.
|
Exploring
the Geology of Richardson Pond
Saturday, November 22,
2008 - 9:00 am -11:00 am
Richardson Pond Easement, Barrington
Geologists Peter and Thelma Thompson led the excursion to
Richardson Pond in Barrington, offering an opportunity to
sharpen powers of observation and gain an appreciation of
this interesting conservation property while learning how
geologists look at the landscape. Topics included: the tools
of a field geologist, the main rock types on the property
and how do you recognize them, clues to reconstruct the geologic
history of the area, how the bedrock and overlying materials
relate to groundwater. Registration was free for members and
$5 for non-members. |
| Annual
Meeting
Thursday, December 4 at 5:30pm
Governor’s Inn, Rochester
In
1942, a group of New Hampshire women operated a sawmill on
the shores of Turkey Pond, Concord. The sawmill, one of two
on the pond, was built to saw up what remained of the logs
stored in the water from the 1938 hurricane. At this year’s
annual meeting Sarah Smith presented “They Sawed Up
A Storm,” a slide show about this group of women, the
1938 hurricane and the determination of the people of New
England. A very brief business meeting preceded the slide
presentation. Registration was $40; dinner is included.
|
The
women who ran the Turkey Pond sawmill.
|
| Roselawn
Farm Walk
Saturday,
November 1, 2008 - 9:00 am -11:00 am
Roselawn
Farm, Madbury/Durham
Participants in the walk learned about the diverse habitats
and conservation values of Roselawn Farm with Mark West, wetland
scientist and naturalist. Roselawn Farm offers visitors an
interesting variety of forests, fields and wetlands to explore.
Part of the property was recently conserved by the Gangwer
family in partnership with the towns of Durham and Madbury,
the Natural Resources Conservation Service and The Strafford
Rivers Conservancy. There was no groomed trail, so participants
did some bushwhacking on rough terrain. The walk was co-sponsored
by the Strafford Rivers Conservancy, the Madbury and Durham
Conservation Commissions, and the Durham Land Protection Working
Group. |
Many
generations enjoyed exploring the diverse habitats of Roselawn
Farm. Photo by Robin Mower
|
| 
Kevin
McEneaney, President of the Strafford Rivers Conservancy,
presents the Ashton Hallett Conservation Award to Robin Aikman
of Rollinsford. Aikman, a founding member of SRC, was honored
for her significant contributions to land conservation in
the region.
|
Celebration
of Conservation
Saturday, October 4,2008 - 5:00 - 9:00 pm
Three Rivers Farm, 185 Three Rivers Farm Road, Dover,
NH
All who joined enjoyed good food, good drink, good music,
great camaraderie and an opportunity to get a tour of this
restored historic mansion.
Tickets
were $125 each, and each purchase entered guests into a raffle
for a dinner for two and an overnight stay at Wentworth by
the Sea. $100 of ticket contribution is tax deductible. All
proceeds will benefit The Strafford Rivers Conservancy. |
| Hawk
Watch and Nature Walk
Saturday, September 20,
2008 - 9:00 am -11:00 am
Panish Easement-Teneriffe Mountain, Milton
Tour guide and naturalist Mark Suomala lead participants on
a gentle climb through woods and across the top of Teneriffe
Mountain in Milton. He described the flora and fauna encountered
along the way, and all enjoyed views of the blueberry fields,
the White Mountains in the distance, and some hawks!
|
Mark
Suomala looks for hawks with Jill Taylor of Barrington.
|
|
John
Wallace, SRC Land Agent, leads participants through the 50
acre Dunham easement in Durham/Lee.
|
After
the Easement: Conservation Land Monitoring Walk
Tuesday,
August 5, 2008 - 9:00 am -12:00 pm
Dunham
Property, Durham-Lee
While legally protecting land from development may seem
like the end f a conservation project, for the conservation
organization that holds the easement the work is just beginning.
The public wais invited to join John Wallace, Strafford
Rivers Conservancy Land Agent, to learn about how conservation
easements are documented and monitored. He demonstrated
this essential conservation work on the 50 acre Dunham/Cody
property located in Durham and Lee. This property features
substantial farmland and over 1500 feet of spectacular habitat
along the Lamprey River. This walk was co-sponsored by the
Durham and Lee Conservation Commissions.
|
| Online
Community Mapping
Wednesday, July 16,
2008 - 9:00 am -12:00 pm
McConnell Center, Dover
The public was invited to learn how to map natural resources
in their community using NH GRANIT’s free online Data
Mapper with Nancy Lambert, SRC member and a geospatial technologies
educator. They were shown how to make custom maps with geographic
data, aerial photos, soils and other features. The workshop
was$20 for members of Strafford Rivers Conservancy and $35
for non-members. (All proceeds benefit the Conservancy.) Limited
to 10 participants.
Bugs,
Buds and Beasts in Barrington
Thursday,
June 19,
2008 - 6:00-8:00 pm
Newhall Property, Barrington
Charlie Tatham, Barrington Natural Heritage Committee member
and Trails Committee Chairman, led the group on an evening
walk on the 80-acre Newhall property in Barrington. In addition
to learning about the conservation values of this property,
which is protected by a conservation easement, participants
got a closer and perhaps more sympathetic look at those
much-maligned beasts that bite, chew and suck: insects.
They also examined the plants that sustain them.
|
Participants
in the Community Resource Mapping workshop learn to map
natural resources in the region using the online NH Data
Mapper.
|
Global
Climate Change and Land Conservation
Monday,
May 19,
2008 - 7:00-8:30 pm
Dover Public Library
Dr. Barry Rock, a botanist at UNH’s Institute for the Study
of Earth, Oceans and Space, discussed global climate change and
the role of land conservation in the strategy to combat global warming.
Dr. Rock specializes in the remote sensing of vegetation and is
highly regarded for his ability to make science interesting and
understandable to the general public. This program was co-sponsored
by Strafford Rivers Conservancy, Great Works Regional Land Trust
and Bear-Paw Regional Greenways.
| 
Malin
Clyde, UNH Cooperative Extension, discussed grassland habitat
and historical changes to New Hampshire’s landscape
during the April 12 Wildlife Habitat workshop on the Aikman
property in Rollinsford.
|
Wildlife
Habitat Workshop
Saturday,
April 12, 2008 - 9:00-11:00 am
Participants
learned how to identify and enhance wildlife habitat with
Malin Clyde, SRC member and coordinator of UNH Cooperative
Extension’s wildlife volunteer program. Participants
visited the Aikman property in Rollinsford, which is protected
by conservation easements held by the Strafford Rivers Conservancy.
Sustainability
and Spirituality
Monday,
March 3,
2008 - 7:00-8:15 pm
Dover Public Library, Trustees Room
A discussion of sustainability and spirituality with John
Carroll, SRC member and UNH professor of natural resources.
Dr. Carroll is the author/editor of several books on this
topic including Sustainability and Spirituality; Ecology
and Religion: Scientists Speak; The Greening of Faith: God,
the Environment; and the Good Life and Embracing Earth:
Catholic Approaches to Ecology.
|
| Conservancy
walk at Richardson Pond Easement
Saturday,
February 23, 2008 - 9:00am - 11:00 am
(Snow date is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24)
At the easment off Route 9
Residents joined naturalists Dick Weyrick, Bob Eckert and
Kai Staplefeldt on this walk on the Richardson Pond easement
in Barrington. This property is newly protected by the town
of Barrington and the Strafford Rivers Conservancy. Owner
Carolyn Goodwill granted an easement to the conservancy before
the purchase of the property by the town. This walk was cosponsored
by the Barrington Conservation Commission. |
Participants
trudged through the snow in snowshoes to enjoy the winter
beauty and learn about the conservation values of the newly
conserved Richardson Pond property in Barrington.
|
Map
Making Online
Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 9:00 am-12:00 pm
(snow date: January 19, 2008 - 9:30 am–12:30 pm)
McConnell Center, Dover
Participants leanred how to map natural resources in their community
using NH GRANIT’s free online Data Mapper with Nancy Lambert,
SRC member and a geospatial technologies educator. They made custom
maps with geographic data, aerial photos, soils and other features.
The workshop was $20 for members of Strafford Rivers Conservancy
and $35 for non-members. (All proceeds benefit the Conservancy.)
| Winter
Tree and Shrub Identification Workshop
Saturday, December 15, 2007 - 9:00-11:00
am
(snow date: December 16, 1:00-3:00 pm)
Participants learned how to identify trees and shrubs
in the winter with Dick Weyrick, SRC member and retired professor
of forestry at UNH. Participants visited the Franklin parcel;
a beautiful 50 acre property along the tidal portion of the
Salmon Falls River in Rollinsford owned and protected by the
SRC. |
The
hardy participants of the Winter Tree & Shrub Identification
workshop braved freezing temperatures to enjoy the remarkable
winter beauty of the Franklin Preserve, a 47-acre parcel on
the Salmon Falls River that is owned and protected by the
Strafford Rivers Conservancy.
|
Protecting
Shoreland and Riparian Buffers Workshop
October
29, 2007 – Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center, Great Bay
Discovery Center, 89 Depot Road, Greenland, NH
Hosted
by the Rockingham Planning Commission, as part of its I-93 Conservation
Commission Institute workshop series
November
5, 2007 – Governor’s Inn, 78 Wakefield Street, Rochester,
NH
Hosted
by the New Hampshire Estuaries Project and the Strafford Regional
Planning Commission
November
29, 2007 – Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission Office,
438 Duqubue Street, Manchester, NH
Hosted by the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission, as
part of its I-93 Conservation Commission Institute workshop series
A Workshop
for Municipal Board/Commission Members, Town Staff, Members of Watershed
Organizations, and Citizens Interested in Protecting Surface Waters
by Strengthening Buffer Ordinances.
This
workshop increased understanding of the value of buffers, the extent
to which different regulatory scenarios protect water resources,
the strength of their towns’ buffer ordinances, and steps
they can undertake to improve local buffer protections. Participants
learned about the value of buffers, the extent to which different
regulatory scenarios protect water resources, the strength of their
towns’ buffer ordinances, and steps they can undertake to
improve local buffer protections. For more information see http://www.nhep.unh.edu/resources/temp/protecting_shoreland_and-nhep-07.pdf.
Agenda
6:30
Workshop introduction & presentation on the functions and values
of buffers
7:15
Buffer mapping exercise – a hands-on mapping exercise that
demonstrates how different buffer regulations protect water resources
7:45
Short break
8:00
Assessment of town buffer regulations* – participants will
review their town’s buffer ordinance to better understand
strengths and limitations
8:30
Steps to develop or improve local buffer regulations – planning
commissions will provide a “road map” for participants
to enhance regulatory protections for buffers in their towns
9:00
Adjourn
* Participants
were asked to bring a copy the buffer ordinance for their town;
if none exist, they will review a neighboring town’s ordinance.
The
workshop was free. The workshop was conducted three times throughout
the seacoast/southern region of the state.
Workshops
organized and presented by staff from the following agencies and
organizations: Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, NH
Department of Environmental Services, NH Fish and Game Department,
New Hampshire Coastal Program, New Hampshire Estuaries Project,
Rockingham Planning Commission, Southern New Hampshire Planning
Commission, Strafford Regional Planning Commission, and UNH Cooperative
Extension.
The
Strafford Rivers Conservancy Annual Dinner Meeting
The
Governors Inn, 78
Wakefield St., Rochester, NH
Wednesday,
December 12th, 2007 at 6:00
p.m.
Cost: $35 per person
Members,
friends, guests, and the Board of Directors of Strafford County's
Regional Land Trust.
Approximate
Schedule
6:00 PM - Social hour: Light hors d'ouevres/Cash Bar
6:30 PM - Brief business meeting and announcements
6:45 PM - Speaker - Kristine Rines, NH Fish and Game Department:
Hear great stories and ask questions about "NH's Moose!"
7:30
PM - Dinner/Dessert Table/Coffee
Hawk
and Nature Watch and Walk
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Teneriffe Mountain Blueberry Farm, Milton NH
Tour Guide and Naturalist Mark Suomala led participants on a gentle
climb through the woods up across the top of Teneriffe Mountain,
describing the flora and fauna that we encountered along the way.
At the top, we enjoyed views of the blueberry fields below, the
White Mountains in the distance, and some hawks! Mark also described
the importance of Teneriffe Mountain to the regional watershed.
> More information
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Articles
& Press Releases
- Rollinsford
land conservationist honored
(October 23, 2008, Foster's Daily Democrat)
- 67
acres of farmland conserved in Durham and Madbury (June 28,
2008, Foster's Daily Democrat)
- Giving
back to the town he loves Joe Ford donates 71 acres (June
23, 2008, Foster's Daily Democrat)
- Tour
reveals look of N.H. in agrarian times
(April 13, 2008, Foster's Daily Democrat)
- Group
tours conservation property in Barrington (February 24, 2008,
Foster's Daily Democrat)
- Local
couple put acreage in conservation (February 14, 2008, Rochester
Times)
- Conservancy
walk at Richardson Pond easement (February
12, 2008, Foster's Daily Democrat)
- Yet
more land conserved in Wakefield (February 7, 2008, Rochester
Times)
- More
acreage conserved in Sanbornville (January 24, 2008, Rochester
Times)
- Barrington
conservationists honored (January 20, 2008, Foster's Daily
Democrat)
- Barrington
reaches its 10 percent by 2010 land conservation goal (January
10, 2008, Rochester Times)
- Madbury
purchases two conservation easements (December 5, 2007, The
Wire)
- Grant
Helps Forest Protection (August 17, 2007, Seacoast Online)
- Success
Story of the month: Flag Hill Winery, Lee (November 2004/January
2005, Land & Community Heritage Investment Program)
- Tuttle
Farm plans protection with a conservation easement (November
28, 2005, Dover Community News)
- Planning
under way to save historic Tuttle Farm in Dover (November
4, 2005, Foster's Online)
- Couple's
conservation easement protects Blackwater land in Dover (March
18, 2005, Foster's Online)
- Conservation
land protects water, wildlife, farm in Dover (March 11, 2005,
Dover Community News)
- Dover
resident honored for community leadership (December 10, 2004,
Dover Community News)
- Local
Land Trusts Staffed by Coverts Cooperators (December 2004,
Making Tracks: The Newsletter of the New Hampshire Coverts
Project)
- Conservancy
receives grant from Waste Management of NH (October 29, 2004,
Dover Community News)
- Boudreau
new leader at rivers conservancy (October 15, 2004, Dover
Community News)
- Land
conservation workshop set (July 30, 2004, Exeter News-Letter)
- Flag
Hill Winery and Distillery conserved (August 27, 2004, Exeter
News-Letter)
- Land
trust will preserve family farm (May 30, 2004, Foster's
Online)
- cochecho
boat race planned for June 12 (May 28, 2004, Dover Community
News)
- Winery
conservation in works (May 7, 2004, Exeter News-Letter)
- Dover
riverfront property permanently protected (January 9, 2004,
Dover Community News)
- Grant
awarded to protect community farmland (October 3, 2003, Dover
Community News)
- Group
to visit area forests (September 5, 2003, Exeter News-Letter)
- Record
crowd shows for Great cochecho Boat Race (June 23, 2002, Foster's
Online)
- Residents
want to know more about protection (May 3, 2002, Dover
Community News)
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