FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Contact: Mike Speltz (603) 224-9945
                                                             Karen Finogle (603) 224-9945

October 3, 2003

THREE TOWNS CELEBRATE PRESERVATION OF 300
ACRES OF WORKING FOREST
Protected land is open for public recreation and education

LONDONDERRY - The preservation of nearly 300 contiguous acres of working forest in one of New Hampshire's most populated areas was celebrated on Friday, October 3 at the Lion's Pavilion in Londonderry.

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and town officials from Londonderry, Hudson, and Windham honored those who made it possible to add an additional 188 acres of open space to already protected land in those three communities.

The Ingersoll family – Sue (Clough), David, Jon, Ann (Schwab), and James – was honored for it's significant land contributions. The Ingersolls are the children of Patricia Ingersoll, who gave 71 acres to the Forest Society in 1975 to establish the Leslie. C. Bockes Memorial Forest in memory of her father. Her children have continued this legacy by donating an additional 160 acres to this Forest Society reservation.  

The Ingersoll children also donated a conservation easement to the Forest Society on 28 acres, which was purchased by the town of Windham to expand the 22-acre Andrews Town Forest. These new additions connect the two pre-existing reservations and are now part of nearly 300 contiguous acres of protected open space. The reservations are accessible from all three towns and offer an extensive network of trails for the public to enjoy hiking, skiing, or nature study.

The dedication ceremony also celebrated the unique commitment and collaboration of the citizens and officials from all three towns. Earlier this year, citizens voiced their support by passing three quarters of the funding needed to protect the land. Town officials then worked collectively to submit joint grant applications to raise the remainder of the money. This resulted in nearly $600,000 in grant money being secured through New Hampshire's Land and Community Heritage Investment Program and the Department of Environmental Services' Water Supply Land Grant Program.

For more information, please contact Mike Speltz, Forest Society land protection specialist, at 603.224.9945.

Founded in 1901, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is a 10,000-member, nonprofit organization that has helped protect more than one million acres. Visit www.forestsociety.org for more information, or call (603) 224-9945.

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