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News

  • Gilmanton Couple Sees Conservation Vision Completed

    March 13, 2023

    The couple donated a conservation easement on the last 40 acres in their ownership to the Forest Society.

    Read more
  • Celebrating Land Protection at Champlin Forest

    Anna Berry
    February 27, 2023

    Despite frigid temperatures, the group toasted the achievement with hot chocolate and explored the newly protected land on foot.

  • 100+ Acres in Allenstown Protected Forever Thanks to Trowbridge-Bonk Family & Forest Society Supporters

    February 23, 2023

    The Bonk-Trowbridge family generously donated the conservation easement and will retain ownership of the land.

    Read more

Murray Family Donates Conservation Easement in Wolfeboro and New Durham to Forest Society

Kelly Whalen
October 24, 2022
Land Conservation
Lakes Region
The Murray Family poses with President Jack Savage and Land Conservation Project Manager Leah Hart outside at the Conservation Center.
Roger and Linda Murray with Forest Society President Jack Savage and Land Conservation Project Manager Leah Hart.

Recently, the Murray Family generously donated a nearly 200-acre conservation easement to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests in the towns of Wolfeboro and New Durham.

“I bought the land with no intention of ever developing it,” states Roger Murray, owner of the land. “It has been a source of great enjoyment for my family and, as time went by, I realized that I did not want it ever to be developed. It is where I walk our dogs and where I learned that no matter what happened earlier in the day, the world just seems a better place after a walk in the woods.”

Views of green forests and a mountain from the conservation easement property.
Nearly the entirety of the property (pictured above) is located within the Conservation Focus Areas of the Lakes Region Conservation Plan.

The conservation easement permanently protects productive woodlands, high-quality wildlife habitat, connectivity of un-fragmented and climate resilient lands, scenic frontage on unmaintained public roads, and wetlands and streams. Nearly the entirety of the property is located within the Conservation Focus Areas of the Lakes Region Conservation Plan.

“I believe it is important that there be land which remains undeveloped. The land is near other conserved land and helps create a wildlife corridor. The easement also will protect a section of Heath Brook, a major tributary of Lake Wentworth,” Murray continues.

Murray first moved to the property in 1972 and, moored by family ties to Lake Wentworth, never found a reason to leave. After bringing back to life a forgotten farmhouse, Murray continued to acquire nearby woodlands and wetlands around this beloved home where he and his wife, Linda, raised their family. Professionally, Murray is a retired attorney whose decades-long practice includes conservation law. The Murrays have long cared about the land, water, and community, and they hope by protecting their land it will inspire others to do the same.

“The Murray conservation easement is located within a larger block of undeveloped land and enhances nearby conserved contiguous lands totaling over 5,400 acres,” states Jack Savage, president of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. “We cannot thank the Murrays enough for this generous donation and their commitment to land conservation.”

“I enjoy being a conservation easement landowner and knowing that the land is protected forever,” adds Murray.

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Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests54 Portsmouth St.Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.224.9945Fax: 603.228.0423info@forestsociety.org
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