Francis Small Heritage Trust Inc

CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROVIDE FOR OPEN SPACE, PUBLIC ACCESS, AND EDUCATION.

WE ACQUIRED SEVERAL NEW PROPERTIES FOR PUBLIC USE. WE COMPLETED THE PURCHASE OF 200.97 ADDITIONAL ACRES IN THE PORTER (MAINE) HILLS, INCLUDING THE ICONIC DEVILS DEN OVERLOOK AND CABIN. THIS LAND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR LOW-IMPACT RECREATION INCLUDING HIKING AND HUNTING AND IS PERMANENTLY PROTECTED BY A PROJECT AGREEMENT WITH THE MAINE LAND FOR MAINE'S FUTURE PROGRAM WHICH ALSO COVERS SOME OF THE PORTER HILLS PROPERTIES ACQUIRED IN 2022.

PROVIDED STEWARDSHIP, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH ON APPROXIMATELY 2,978 ACRES OF LAND IN AND AROUND LIMINGTON, LIMERICK, BALDWIN, PORTER, PARSONSFIELD, NEWFIELD, WATERBORO, AND CORNISH, MAINE. THESE PROPERTIES CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, ENJOYMENT, AND EDUCATION. STEWARDSHIP INCLUDED LAND TAXES, AND TRAIL MAINTENANCE. THE STATEWIDE RECOGNIZED RESOURCE HAS AN ESTIMATED 5,000 VISITORS A YEAR, INCLUDING SCHOOL GROUPS. OUTREACH INCLUDED DISTRIBUTING 1,000 FREE HIKING MAPS TO THE PUBLIC, ALL TO ENCOURAGE HIKING IN THE AREA. GRANTED $1,100 TO THE TOWN OF LIMINGTON AND $700 TO THE TOWN OF PORTER AS PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES (PILOT). THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PAID LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES OF $11,888 IN LIMERICK, BALDWIN, PARSONSFIELD, PORTER, WATERBORO, AND CORNISH EVEN THOUGH THE ORGANIZATION COULD BE TECHNICALLY EXEMPTED FROM SUCH TAXES.

CONTINUED OUR EDUCATION OUTREACH TO LOCAL SCHOOLS THE "SENSE OF PLACE" PROGRAM. APPROXIMATELY 120 STUDENTS WERE SERVED BY THE PROGRAM. WE ALSO WORKED ON A "FOREST CARBON WORKSHOP" AREA ON SAWYER MOUNTAIN WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN MEASURE THE CARBON CONTENT OF THE FOREST AND CAN INVESTIGATE WAYS TO MANAGE A FOREST FOR MAXIMUM CARBON SEQUESTRATION. APPROXIMATELY TWENTY VOLUNTEERS ESTABLISHED THE PROGRAM AND THE FOREST PLOTS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.