Located in Middleton and Brookfield, NH — between the Lakes Region and the Seacoast — the Forest Society's Moose Mountains Reservation is part of one of the largest blocks of forestland in the southeast part of the state. At 2,575 acres, it includes high elevation lookouts from Phoebe's Nable and Beauty Ledge, as well as important streams and wetlands, including a large great blue heron rookery. Together with the adjacent Ellis R. Hatch, Jr (Jones Brook) Wildlife Management Area (1,920 acres owned by NH Fish and Game) and the Copple Crown Forest (732 acres conserved by Lakes Region Conservation Trust) and within a few miles of the new Birch Ridge Community Forest bordering Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham (2,015 acres owned by Southeast Land Trust of NH), the Moose Mountains Reservation is an important component in a landscape of more than 7,000 acres of nearly contiguous conserved forestland, much of it sustainably managed for forest products as well as wildlife, watershed protection and recreation. This area is significant because here the streams that feed Jones Brook, Horn Brook and the Branch River flow down from the mountains to form the headwaters of the Salmon Falls River and Piscataqua watershed that in turn support coastal water supplies and water quality.

Now, the Forest Society has the opportunity to acquire two smaller but very important parels of land to expand the Moose Mountains Reservation by 171 acres, bringing it to 2,746 acres in total. 

We are working with two families to acquire lands at each end of the reservation. On the north side in Brookfield, the Nason property includes 100 acres on the eastern flank of Moose Mountain. This higher elevation area includes unique rocky ridge and pitch pine natural areas, as well as a significant stretch of the Moose Mountain Trail and two other unnamed trails.

On the southwesterly side of the reservation, the Forest Society is working with the Harvey family to acquire 71 acres of land that includes frontage on Jones Brook as well as the confluence of two tributary streams and extensive wetlands.

This property is a wildlife haven, with a variety of forested wetlands and young forest habitat for moose, deer, bear, bobcat, turkey, ruffed grouse and aquatic species.

Together, these two parcels will add important resources to the Moose Mountains Reservation, helping with management continuity and further building toward corridors that will connect conserved lands in this still-wild and forested part of the state. To be successful, we must raise $180,000 by February 15, 2021.

Fortunately, with several state and private grant awards in process, we hope to need just $40,000 to reach our goal. Please help us achieve that milestone by making a contribution today! For more information, please contact Anne Truslow, Vice President for Development, at atruslow@forestsociety.org or 603-224-9945. Thank You!