PETERBOROUGH, N.H. —The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (Forest Society) is pleased to annoounce the conservation of 85 acres in Peterborough. Mike Morison, who lives on the Forest Society’s Moore easement, recently acquired the abutting land from family members and donated the conservation easement. In addition, Morison has generously donated the needed funds toward the ongoing stewardship for this new easement.

The property contributes to a large network of conserved lands in western Peterborough including, the 57-acre Moore Easement, 51-acre Kaiser Easement, 110-acre Strong Easement, 113-acre Monohan Easement, 47-acre Woods Easement, and the 154-acre Town owned Freemont lands.  Together these abutting or nearby conservation lands create a block of conserved land totaling over 500 acres minutes from downtown Peterborough.

“The Forest Society praises Mike for his continued support of land conservation in the Peterborough area,” states Brian Hotz, vice president of land conservation with the Forest Society. “With more than 500-acres of land conserved in the area, a large area of land as been conserved for local habitats and wildlife movement. This particular parcel of land also has 2,100 feet of undeveloped land along Old Town Farm Road, a designated Scenic Road.”

The Morison family has managed the pine and oak forest for generations. The property is enhanced by a 5-acre forested wetland/swale with a small stream on the easterly side of property providing an important water source to the land and wildlife.

The Town of Peterborough’s Conservation Commission and Open Space Committee supported the project, with the town providing $8,000 towards the project’s expenses through its Land Acquisition Capital Reserve Fund. The Forest Society’s Monadnock Landowner Assistance Fund is also being used to cover project expenses.

“It’s always a pleasure to work with the Forest Society,” states Francie Von Mertens, co-chair of the Conservation Commission for the Town of Peterborough. “Support funding for the Morison easement is just what Peterborough's Land Acquisition Capital Reserve Fund is for, in this case adding 86 acres with high natural resource value to the town’s conserved lands. Smiles all around.”