April 2017, the PLC completed an expansion of the existing 20-acre Grant Family Farm Conservation Area in Weare to nearly 72 acres, protecting the western slopes of Mt. Dearborn. When combined with PLC's abutting the abutting 114-acre Walker conservation easement, the newly expanded conservation property protects nearly all of Mt. Dearborn. At an elevation of 1,211 ft, the mountain is one of a cluster of the three highest elevation peaks in Weare, with the others being Mine Hill (1,211 ft.) and Mt. Wallingford (1,210 ft.). The property also buffers streams and wetlands above the nearby NH Fish and Game’s 308-acre Perkins Pond Wildlife Management Area. The conservation of this land is through a primarily working-lands easement, as the property is going to be managed for maple sugar production and forestry, with a sugar shack currently in operation on adjacent family land.

This project has had great support in the community, with contributions from the Weare Conservation Commission, the Emma Sawyer Trust, and the Ethel and Charles Eastman Fund. For my part, it has been extremely gratifying to have worked with the Town and the other terrific supporters to further enhance the Town’s conservation goals for maintaining open space, forestry, agriculture, and wildlife habitat for the benefit of the citizens of Weare.

The project was brought to the PLC by Terry Knowles, a family member and Trustee of the Verna G. Martin Family Trust. Terry says that “the Grant Family Farm property has been in our family for generations and some of my fondest childhood memories include walking the land with my grandfather, Leon Grant, who taught me the history of the area going all the way back to the Native Americans who hunted and camped there. It has long been our family's hope to place the land under a conservation easement and we are grateful to the Piscataquog Land Conservancy for providing the opportunity to preserve and protect this very special place.” The family has now conserved nearly 85 acres in the area in partnership with the PLC.

We thank the Grant family for their outstanding commitment to conservation and for their most productive relationship with the PLC.

Tom Jones, PLC Land Protection Specialist