2024 Five Rivers Recap
2024 was another action-packed year for Five Rivers, including the conservation of four significant new properties, permanently protecting over 623 additional acres! Your support made these achievements possible, so we want to reflect on the milestones of 2024 together:
FOUR CONSERVED PROPERTIES
Kathryn Lane Property in Dunbarton – On August 1, Kathryn Lane generously donated a 134-acre conservation easement to Five Rivers. In addition to protecting the land and important wildlife habitat, conservation of the Layne property contributes to a large block of over 750 mostly-contiguous acres protected by Five Rivers in Dunbarton: the Koerber Family Forest; Stone Farm; and the Farley property.
Potter Farm in Concord – On August 12 we conserved the 90-acre Potter Farm on Oak Hill Road that abuts Turtle Pond. Five Rivers’ executive director Liz Short noted “Conserving Potter Farm has been a long time in coming through the efforts of many individuals and several critical national, state, and community funding partners. Through it all, Cynthia Potter Johnson was really the driving force that got us across the finish line. Her vision and determination to see her family’s farm permanently protected underlies everything we’ve done.”
Foster Meadow Farm in Boscawen – In October, we were delighted to receive another donated easement, this time the 90-acre Foster Meadow Farm, currently an equestrian center owned by Pam Goodrich in Boscawen. Pam was particularly keen on preserving the scenic road frontage with a stone wall running along Water Street. Behind the stone wall are beautiful open fields lined by mature trees, and across the road is an unobstructed view of Mt. Kearsarge.
Joseph and Barbara Colby Conservation Area in Boscawen – What a way to conclude 2024! In December, we announced the permanent conservation of 309 acres along High Street (Rte. 4) in Boscawen. Growing up in a family with a long history in the forestry and lumber business and now living in the Colby family farmhouse on High Street, Joe appreciates the value of working forest, agricultural lands, and the recreational opportunities available. His generous donated conservation easement ensures that future generations will benefit from the same values and opportunities that he has long enjoyed.
FIVE RIVERS SIGNAGE PROJECT
Although Five Rivers has conserved over 80 properties, lack of identifying signage has meant that we are often an unseen part of the local conservation landscape. In January, the Rotary Club of Concord provided a generous gift of $5,000 to support our efforts to purchase and install signs on our most widely-used properties. To date we have installed signs at Carter Hill Orchard, Dimond Hill Farm, Marjory Swope Park, Winant Park, Bohanan Farm, Ransmeier Woods, and several others. Later stages of the project will include installation of signs on conserved Five Rivers properties across our entire 17-town service area.
FIVE RIVERS EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
We hope many of you were able to join us at an event or activity this past year, and we look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events planned for 2025!
February – At Pint Night and Trivia at Feathered Friend Brewery in Concord, Five Rivers benefited from every draft bought over the course of the evening. We also connected with new members of our community and are grateful to everyone who stopped by.
March – In early March we explored the 477-acre Janeway property, our largest conserved property. The exploration at the Janeway property is becoming an annual event, and this year our walk expanded to new areas of the property, including venturing through the woods down to the Blackwater River.
June – Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Guided Forest Immersion event at Ransmeier Woods in Hopkinton. We are grateful to Kirke Olson who donated his time and expertise for this event.
July – Five Rivers Board Chair Jamie Robertson of Contoocook Creamery at Bohanan Farm hosted a farm-to-table benefit dinner for Five Rivers. Held at Bohanan Farm, the event helped raise money for our critical mission – to conserve land in New Hampshire’s Capital region. We spent the night laughing and eating in excellent company and enjoyed celebrating local land conservation!
July – Also in July we held our annual summer Volunteer Easement Monitor Cookout for past, present, and first-time volunteer monitors. Jamie Robertson again hosted this cookout at Bohanan Farm. In September, we had a great time orienting our new and returning easement monitors to Gaia GPS! Thank you to all the Five Rivers volunteer easement monitors who spent the evening with us. We need more volunteers to help us steward the land conserved by Five Rivers, so please contact us if you are interested!
August – Five Rivers staff and volunteers joined Project STORY for a walk at Winant Park. We spent an hour and a half exploring trails near the heart of Concord and taking in the view from the top. While the walk began with a healthy fear of bugs, it ended with an enthusiastic approach to frog catching. Experiencing the woods with 20 energetic and engaged kids, including some first-time hikers, lifted everyone’s spirits.
October – Our Annual Celebration brought together many Five Rivers friends at the Dunbarton Elementary School! From sharing conservation successes over the past year to exploring the Dunbarton Elementary School trails and enjoying the beautiful weather, it was a special time connecting with everyone.
November – Thank you to everyone who joined us in Hopkinton on November 17th for a walk from Bohanan Farm to the Dustin Woods (conservation in progress). We were joined Dave Dustin, landowner and avid historian, who regaled us with stories of the Dustin family’s history in Hopkinton and about the conservation process.
