Property sale will keep land available to hikers, benefit Girl Scout programs
DUBLIN, NH – Woodlands in Dublin are being preserved for future generations through the sale last month of 132 acres by Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains to the Monadnock Conservancy, a land trust for southwestern New Hampshire.
The wooded parcel abutting Howe Reservoir has been owned by the Girl Scout council serving girls in New Hampshire and Vermont since about 1961. Historically, the property was occasionally used by Girl Scouts and the community for hiking and nature exploration, as well as for the council’s training classes in advanced outdoor skills. One must hike in from an access point off Route 101, taking the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail, as there is no entry by vehicle.
“Partnering with the Girls Scouts on this land transfer meets both organizations’ goals of maintaining the land’s undeveloped character and keeping it as open space for the public’s benefit,” said Ryan Owens, executive director of the Conservancy. “We’re especially glad to be a link in protecting the Monadnock–Sunapee Greenway Trail.”
The property, which has no buildings, includes a half mile-plus of the Monadnock–Sunapee Greenway and part of a small water body called Wight Pond. It extends north to the Harrisville town line, with Leighton State Forest to the west and Eliza Adam’s Gorge, which is on property protected by a conservation easement with the Conservancy, to the north. The purchase of the entire Girl Scouts parcel ensures that the land and waterfront will remain undeveloped and that the public will have permanent access to the Greenway hiking trail. The property will now be known as the Gertrude Russell Forest in honor of the woman who first donated the land to the scouts.
The sale will “benefit the council’s land and property funds, which are used to ensure the maintenance of council property to enable safe and high quality outdoor experiences for girls,” said Patricia K. Mellor, CEO of the council. “We are excited that the property will continue to be accessible for the community and allow everyone to enjoy the beauty of the out of doors.”
Mellor is grateful that the land will remain in its undeveloped condition and that it will be used to fulfill the mission of the Monadnock Conservancy and Girl Scouts to make the world a better place.
About The Monadnock Conservancy: Founded in 1989, the Conservancy is the only land trust dedicated exclusively to 39 towns in the Monadnock region of southwestern New Hampshire. Its mission is to work with communities and landowners to conserve the natural resources, wild and working lands, rural character and scenic beauty of the region. Based in Keene, New Hampshire, the Conservancy is an accredited organization that has protected 21,000 acres of forest, farmland, shoreline, wetlands, wildlife habitat and recreation trails in the region. For more information or to sign up for the monthly e-newsletter, visit www.MonadnockConservancy.org or call 603-357-0600.
About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a leading expert on girls. Our Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program for girls, with proven results. It is based on time-tested methods and research-backed programming that helps girls take the lead — in their own lives and in the world. Through our exciting and challenging programs, Girl Scouts not only participate but also take the lead in a range of activities — from kayaking, archery, and camping, to coding, robotics, financial literacy training, and beyond! Serving girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
