By Robert Blechl

BETHLEHEM — Rising construction costs have hiked up the price of renovations at The Rocks Estate, to be made into the northern headquarters of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, but SPNHF’s directors continue to move ahead and expect the big work to commence next year.

“Our board has reaffirmed its commitment to the project and so we are on track to begin renovations on the Carriage Barn in the spring of 2022,” said Anne Truslow, vice president of development for the Forest Society. “Fundraising is going well — we are hovering at about $4 million committed to an $8 million goal and there are a number of requests and proposals in process. We are still in what we would call the ‘quiet’ part of the campaign, but given the strange times, it is not entirely quiet — and this is an important time to keep the momentum strong.”

Previously estimated at a total of $7.5 million, the goal for what is called Forest Society North is a $6 million capital investment (up from $5.5 million) and the same $2 million endowment to maintain buildings and run programs.