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Great Works Regional Land Trust
The unspoiled beauty of Orris Falls
The mission of the Great Works Regional Land Trust is to conserve the natural, historic, agricultural, forestry, scenic and recreational resources of the towns it serves. The trust accomplishes this by holding properties and conservation easements and by promoting conservation through education and other activities.
The GWRLT was founded in 1986 by a small group of concerned citizens. The first project was Backfield Farm in Eliot, owned by a founding member who did not want his homestead farm developed after his family was gone. To preserve the land, the family transferred the development rights of the farm to the trust. In the first ten years, all of GWRLT’s conservation was achieved through similar conservation easements.
In the mid-1990s, the trust initiated its first acquisition campaign to conserve ecologically sensitive land around York Pond, the headwaters of the York River. Working with the towns of Eliot and South Berwick and the State Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, GWRLT successfully conserved 580 acres around York Pond. GWRLT is currently fundraising to purchase an additional 140 acres in the York Pond region.
Beach Plum Farm is
on Route 1 in Ogunquit.
Great Works serves the towns of Eliot, South Berwick, Berwick, North Berwick, Wells and Ogunquit. Its office is located at Beach Plum Farm in Ogunquit. Since its inception, the trust has completed 84 projects conserving more than 4100 acres through donations of land, conservation easements and purchases. GWRLT is a member-supported nonprofit organization. Current membership stands at 900. Its director of development is Christine Magruder.
Major Fundraising Events
Spring Auction, second Saturday in May.
Art Auction, third Saturday in August.
Goals
1. Provide quality public recreational trails in all six towns served by the trust.
2. Balance growth with conservation to safeguard region's water, scenic and agricultural resources.
3. Expand conservation in five focus areas: York Pond (Eliot), Beaver Dam Heath (Berwick), Bauneg Beg Mountain (North Berwick), Mt. Agamenticus (South Berwick) and the Tatnic Hills (Wells, Ogunquit and South Berwick).
4. A ten-year goal of protecting an additional 6500 acres in its six towns.
5. Raise $50,000 in next year to establish a Revolving Loan Fund for Farmland Protection.
Volunteering
Volunteers have made the trust’s accomplishments possible, from a working board of directors to those who volunteer to help with events, mail out newsletters, do trail work, help steward lands, create signs, do clean up, fundraising, office work and other services. FMI and volunteer opportunities, visit the Web or call the GWRLT office at 646-3604.
Sunflowers with an ocean view
at Beach Plum Farm
Donations
Give online at www.JustGive.org, a secure donation service,or send to the mailing address below.
Mailing Address
Great Works Regional Land Trust
P.O. Box 151
South Berwick, ME 03908Office Location
610 Main Street (Rte, 1)
Ogunquit, ME
Phone: 207-646-3604
E-mail: info@gwrlt.org.Web Site
To learn more about the trust, sign up for the newsletter and donations, visit www.gwrlt.org.
Public Places for recreational hiking, nature observation and picnics:
Orris Falls Conservation Area, Thurell Road, South Berwick.
Bauneg Beg Mountain Conservation Area, Fox Farm Hill Road, North Berwick.
Douglas Memorial Woods, State Road, Eliot.
Beach Plum Farm, Route 1, Ogunquit. No dogs permitted.
Raymond and Simone Savage Wildlife Preserve, Route 101, South Berwick (on Eliot line). No dogs permitted.
Kennebunk Land Trust
Strawberry Island is accessible
from Great Hill Road.
Organizational Overview
The Kennebunk Land Trust protects some of the most beautiful land in the area. Trust property features evergreen and hardwood forests, river frontage, sandy beach, coastal marsh, and agricultural landscapes. Many of its holdings are open for passive recreational use.
Founded in 1972, the Trust’s first acquisition was Strawberry Island aka Libby Island off Great Hill Road in Kennebunk. As one of Maine’s oldest working land trusts, the Trust has preserved over 3400 acres in the towns of Kennebunk, Arundel and Lyman. Of these preserved lands, more than 300 acres are protected by conservation easement and remain privately owned.
Mission Statement
Kennebunk Land Trust’s mission is to acquire and/or receive parcels of land, easements and funds in order to preserve and protect the natural areas and character of the Kennebunk/Arundel region. Its mission includes promoting conservation and related educational efforts and collaboration with like-minded organizations.
Major Fundraising Event
Annual Dinner and Auction, first Friday in May.
Volunteer Opportunities
Kennebunk Land Trust welcomes individuals interested in offering their time to help out in the office, maintain trails or assist with special events and projects.
Donations
Kennebunk Land Trust is donor supported; contributions at all levels are appreciated. Business donations at the $75 level and above include a mention on the trust’s web page. Donations can be made by mail to the office, on-line from the trust’s web site, or by using the JustGive.org secure server from the trust’s web site. The trust is a federally registered 501(c)3 organization and contributions are tax deductible.
Alewive Pond
Contact Information
Kennebunk Land Trust
Marie Louise St.Onge, Executive Director
11 York Street
Kennebunk, ME 04043
Phone: 207-985-8734
E-mail: info@kennebunklandtrust.org
Web site: www.kennebunklandtrust.org
Preserves open to the public for recreational use:
Please note: Properties are marked clearly by signs and trail blazing. Daylight use only, carry-in/carry-out, leave no trace. Motorized vehicles, fires and camping are not permitted.
Alewive Woods Preserve, Cole Road, West Kennebunk
Butler Preserve, Old Port Road, KennebunkClark Preserve, Emmons Road, Kennebunk
Kennebunk Wildlife Management Area (aka Blueberry Plains), Route 99, West KennebunkMarx Preserve, access from Route 9 opposite the pump station, Kennebunk
Mousam River Wildlife, Water Street, KennebunkSea Road Preserve, Sea Road, Kennebunk
The Secret Garden, Evergreen Cemetery, Port Road, Kennebunk
Wonder Brook Preserve, Plummer Lane, Kennebunk
Kennebunkport Conservation Trust“To preserve land in its natural state, so that future generations will be able to enjoy it as we do" is the stated purpose of the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, a community organization dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the town.
Established in 1973, the trust, with a broad base of community support, has protected over 70 properties acquired through direct purchase, donations and conservation easements. They total just over 1600 acres, including ten islands in Cape Porpoise Harbor and Goat Island Lighthouse.
The trust was founded by a small group of residents concerned about protecting scenic open spaces, wildlife habitats and the character of the town. The roots of the organization date back to 1969 when Vaughn's Island was purchased to protect it from development.
The Grist Mill, Kennebunkport
A few years later, the River Green on Ocean Avenue was for sale. The group recognized that having open space in the downtown area was beneficial for the town, and it was at that time that they also realized that preservation of open spaces was more than just a one-time occurrence.
The group then formed the umbrella organization, the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, in 1973. It took the fledgling organization some time to raise the monies need for the River Green purchase; many thought the price tag on the property was exorbitant for two building lots – $32,500.
Since then, areas worthy of protection were identified and whenever possible, they were purchased; others were donated by property owners. The trust is now overseen by a 16-member board of trustees and administered by executive director Tom Bradbury. The current membership is over 1000.
Goals
Secure funding for educational programs, such as “Trust in Our Children.”
Restore Goat Island Lighthouse to its historic look of the 1950s.
Landscape the Grist Mill property on Mill Lane off North Street.
Acquire specific properties in town, some available now, that would enhance current holdings. Some are connecting links to other properties; others enlarge existing holdings or preserve traditional views.
Create a trail system connecting existing segments.
Fund a large enough endowment to protect the trust’s properties and ensure the trust will remain financially stable.
Major fundraising events
1. Twelfth Night in early January.
2. Dave Mallett concert in early spring.
3. Phillip H. Mathews Memorial Lobster Bake on the third Sunday in August (August 16, 2009). Tickets go on sale in the spring for this popular event.
4. Annual Road Rally of the Kennebunks, in late September. FMI: www.thekennebunksroadrally.com.
5. Trust in Art Auction in conjunction with Heartwood College, October 11, 2009.
Watch for details about these events in the calendar.
Volunteering
Many opportunities exist. They include Island stewards, special events and archaeology committees, the school outreach program, Goose Rocks Beach and trail stewards, town forest and parks committees and others. The trust is very dependent on volunteers and welcomes anyone who is interested in learning about ways to help.
Goat Island Lighthouse
Headquarters
57 Gravelly Brook Road
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
Phone: 207-967-3465
E-mail: tom@kctoffice.com or info@kctoffice.orgMailing address for inquiries and donations
Tom Bradbury, Executive Director
P.O. Box 7004
Cape Porpoise, Maine 04014Web Site
To learn more about the trust, volunteer opportunities and how to donate, visit www.kporttrust.org.
Preserves for bird watching, wildlife viewing, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and other passive recreational pursuits:
Edwin L. Smith Preserve, Guinea Road: Steele Trail, Fox Den Trail, Brook Trail, Trolley Trail, Bobcat Ridge TrailEmmons Preserve, Gravelly Brook Road: Mark and Gail Roller Trail, Jeremy’s Trail and Jenne’s Loop
Tyler Brook Preserve, Tyler Brook Road just off the Mills Road (access is on the paved road to left side of a private drive).
Parks:
River Green, Ocean Avenue.Ganny's Garden, on the Trust's River Green, Ocean Avenue.
Green at Mast Cove, adjacent to Graves Memorial Library, Mast Cove Lane.
Grist Mill property, end of Mill Lane.
Islands for camping:
Vaughn’s Island, Trott’s Island and Cape Island. All require a fire permit from Communications Department on Route 9, which also has camping guidelines.
Others KCT properties:
Goose Rocks Beach, central section.
Goat Island Lighthouse, accessible by private boat. Tours possible when caretakers are in residence in the summer.
The Mount Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative (MtA2C)
is led by a coalition of ten partners to conserve a broad assemblage of ecological, scenic, agricultural and recreational lands in a six-town region in southern York County.
Mount Agamenticus dominates
the horizon in this aerial view.
The partners of the MtA2C coalition include: The Nature Conservancy, the Great Works Regional Land Trust, The York Land Trust, the Kittery Land Trust, the Trust for Public Land, the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the US Fish and Wildlife Service/Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve and the York Rivers Association.
The area around Mount Agamenticus is the largest intact coastal forest between Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine, and the New Jersey Pine Barrens. It is also the most biologically diverse place in the state of Maine, with the largest number of threatened and endangered species. Three animals and 20 plant species found in the MtA2C area are found nowhere else in Maine.
The goal is to conserve a mosaic of critical lands, waterways and working landscapes in the six-town area between the Tatnic Hills of Wells and Gerrish Island in Kittery Point; the towns involved are Ogunquit, Wells, South Berwick, York, Eliot and Kittery.
MtA2C utilizes a two-pronged approach to conservation. The first is the traditional method of acquiring land by purchase, donation or through conservation easements. It also works with the six municipalities to realize conservation goals through better land use planning. The partners of MtA2C have collectively protected an additional 2500 acres of land since October 2002.
Donations
To make an on-line donation, visit the site www.MtA2C.org and click on the JustGive.org link.To mail donations, download the form from the Web site and mail to:
Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea
A view of the Atlantic Ocean
from atop Mount AgamenticusP.O. Box 1241
York Harbor, ME 03911For questions, contact:
Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea
P.O. Box 151
South Berwick, ME 03908
E-mail: mta2c@gwrlt.orgOffice Location
610 Main Street
Ogunquit, ME 03907
Phone: 207-646-3604
E-mail: mta2c@gwrlt.orgWeb Site
www.mtatosea.org
Mount Agamenticus, often referred to as “The Big A,” is the highest hill, at 692 feet, on the Atlantic seaboard between Florida and Mount Desert in Acadia National Park. It has a variety of trails from .1 mile to 1.5 miles for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The grassy, expansive summit area affords panoramic views of the coast and to the west, Mount Washington in New Hampshire. The summit is a well-known site in the fall for watching migrating hawks, including peregrine falcons, bald eagles and osprey. Mt. A can be reached from Mountain Road off Route 1.
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