Presumpscot Regional Land Trust is about to embark on another land acquisition. This is great news for the environment and for all lovers of the great outdoors. Shortly after announcing the finalization and the beginning of trail building on the 300 acre Lowell Preserve joint project with the town of Windham, the Land Trust has announced a new, even larger project.

The Land Trust and the town of Windham have agreed to work together to protect a 600 acre parcel of forested land, making it one of the largest conservation projects in the Greater Portland area.

Rachelle Curran Apse, Presumpscot Regional Land Trust Executive Director, said, “This regionally significant 600-acre conservation project off Falmouth Road will become part of a nearly 2,000-acre contiguously conserved land area connecting with Lowell Preserve, North Falmouth Community Forest, and Blackstrap Hill Preserve, providing an un-fragmented forest habitat corridor of exceptional size.”

According to the Land Trust, this conservation project, within one of the largest undeveloped forested tracts of land in the region, includes Atherton Hill, at nearly 600 feet, which is the largest hill in Windham. It includes 1,545 feet of frontage along Little Duck Pond and 1,500 feet of stream frontage on a wild brook trout habitat. In addition, nearly 25% of the land is identified by the state as a significant deer wintering area, one of just a few large deer wintering areas remaining in the region.

Curran Aspe explained this new project, similar to all Land Trust Preserves, will ensure that the land will never be subdivided or developed and that multi-use trails will always be available for the community.

While still early in the planning, she said, “The outdoor recreation experience on these 600 acres of forever conserved land will include miles of new trails for walkers, bikers, snowmobilers, and ATVers — while continuing to provide hunting access.”

There are plans to create an ADA accessible trail through the forest, provide access to Little Duck Pond for picnicking with the option to climb an observation tower atop Atherton Hill, which offers great views of Mount Washington and the ocean. She added, “This land also includes 40 acres of wetlands, which provide high-quality habitat for species such as spring peepers, spotted salamanders, and leopard frogs — amphibians that are declining quickly, due to habitat loss.

Raising approximately $3 million in funds for this significant project from state, federal and local sources will occur over the next year to pay for land acquisition costs, trail building, recreational amenities, and long-term stewardship of the land. As always, the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust works for all of us and for our future generations.

To learn more, visit www.prlt.org.