Henniker Couple Conserved 329-acre Tree Farm
For the past decade, Chip Rice has thought about conserving the land that has been in his family for more than 200 years. Finally, he and his wife Ann took the big step: they donated a conservation easement on their 329-acre tree farm in Henniker to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
“We are grateful to Chip and Ann for their generosity,” said Forest Society President/Forester Jane Difley. “The Forest Society looks forward to working with them to make sure their beautiful tree farm continues to provide important forest products and wildlife habitat in perpetuity.”
The Rices’ land is a registered tree farm with a well-managed forest dominated by white pine, red oak, and other hardwoods. The property contains more than 3,600 feet of Brown Brook, 1,480 feet of Amey Brook, and dozens of vernal pools. Neighbors enjoy hiking and hunting on the land, and the easement will guarantee continued public access, including a section of a state-designated snowmobile trail.
Both the Rice’s land and the Bound Tree Forest are located in the 14,000-acre Mink Hills – an area of regional importance for forest products, wildlife habitat, and public recreation. Coyote, bobcat, deer, fox, and other creatures flourish in the region’s forests, wetlands and waterways. The Mink Hills are a priority conservation area not only for Henniker, but also for the surrounding towns of Warner and Bradford, the Quabbin-to-Cardigan (Q2C) Initiative, and the State’s Wildlife Action Plan.
Throughout the project, the Forest Society worked closely with the Town of Henniker’s Conservation Commission, which also identifies the Mink Hills as a priority conservation area. The Henniker Conservation Commission provided a grant to cover all project expenses and will hold an executory interest in the easement.
Founded in 1901, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is the state’s oldest and largest non-profit land conservation organization. Supported by 10,000 families and businesses, the Forest Society’s mission is to perpetuate the state’s forests by promoting land conservation and sustainable forestry. For more information, visit www.forestsociety.org.