Conservation Groups Team Up to Host Hike in Stockton Springs

Stockton Springs, Maine - Coastal Mountains Land Trust and the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition (BBWC) offer a winter exploration of the Main Stream Preserve in conjunction with the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend, a statewide event that promotes outdoor activities for all, sponsored by the Maine Outdoor Coalition.

The hike will explore the Main Stream Preserve in Stockton Springs on Saturday, February 15 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Ellen Skoczenski, Membership Coordinator for the Land Trust and Skip Pendleton of the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition will lead the excursion via snowshoe or cross country ski to explore the 250-acre preserve. Participants should come prepared for a challenging excursion; there are no established trails and footing may be uneven. Extra layers and water are recommended. The location of entry to the preserve will depend on weather and conditions, so participants should meet at the intersection of Route 1 and the Harris Road in Stockton Springs to carpool or get directions.

Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve land to benefit the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay. The Land Trust has protected over 9,300 acres to date. For more information about this event, other preserves or the Land Trust please call (207) 236-7091 or visit www.coastalmountains.org.

The Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition is a group of individuals working to support conservation and stewardship of natural, scenic, historic, and public access resources of the Belfast Bay watershed through research, community-building, and education. For more information, visit www.belfastbaywatershed.org.

Land Trust leads exploration of new loop trail

Belfast, Maine - Coastal Mountains Land Trust and the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition (BBWC) offer an exploration of the newly completed loop trail on the Head of Tide Preserve in Belfast on Tuesday, November 12 from 12:00 to 2:00pm.

Ian Stewart, Stewardship Director for the Land Trust and Cloe Chunn, Board Member of the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition, will lead the group along the new trail which was constructed by a volunteer group this past summer. The trail extends the existing trail system into a 1.5-mile loop, following the edge of one of several fields, before rolling along the forested ridge parallel to the Passagassawakeag River. The trail offers two opportunities to access the river directly and many chances to observe wildlife and the river's flow. Participants should dress appropriately for an outdoor excursion, including wearing blaze orange.

Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve land to benefit the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay. The Land Trust has protected over 9,100 acres to date. For more information about this event, other preserves or the Land Trust please call (207) 236-7091 or visit www.coastalmountains.org.

The Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition is a group of individuals working to support conservation and stewardship of natural, scenic, historic, and public access resources of the Belfast Bay watershed through research, community-building, and education. For more information, visit www.belfastbaywatershed.org.

Land Trust leads backcountry exploration on new preserve

Stockton Springs, Maine - Coastal Mountains Land Trust and the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition (BBWC) offer a winter exploration of the Main Stream Preserve in Stockton Springs and Prospect on Thursday, February 28 from 9:30am to 1:30pm.

Ian Stewart, Stewardship Director for the Land Trust and Cloe Chunn of the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition will lead an off trail bushwhack of the new preserve. A challenging hike, snowshoe or cross-country ski (depending on conditions) will take participants along the Main Stream into Prospect, through this beautiful forested preserve.

Space is limited to fifteen so please call (207) 236-7091 to reserve a spot and directions to the meeting location. Participants should dress appropriately for a winter excursion and bring a lunch and water to enjoy the day.

Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve land to benefit the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay. The Land Trust has protected over 9,100 acres to date. For more information about this event, other preserves or the Land Trust please call (207) 236-7091 or visit www.coastalmountains.org.

The Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition is a group of individuals working to support conservation and stewardship of natural, scenic, historic, and public access resources of the Belfast Bay watershed through research, community-building, and education. For more information, visit www.belfastbaywatershed.org.

FAMILY INSECT SAFARI AT HEAD OF TIDE PRESERVE

Belfast, Maine - Coastal Mountains Land Trust and Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition will co-host an insect safari on Friday, July 27 from 10am-12pm at Head of Tide Preserve in Belfast. The outing is open to the public and free of charge. No advance registration is necessary. 


Dr. Kathy Murray, entomologist for Maine Department of Agriculture, will lead this exploratory hands-on workshop for insect lovers of all ages. Murray will use her insect collection to give an introductory glimpse into the fascinating lives of insects. The group will then venture through forests, fields, and along thePassagassawakeag River in search of insects of all sorts. Participants should dress for an outdoor exploration. 


Kathy Murray, Ph.D, trained in entomology at the University of Massachusetts and has been engaged in insect research, teaching and pest management in Maine for 20 years. She works as an Integrated Pest Management specialist at the Maine Department of Agriculture and enjoys learning and teaching about insects and their critical importance to nature, people, and the planet we share.   


The 92-acre Head of Tide Preserve is part of the Passagassawakeag Greenway Campaign, an on-going initiative to create a public trail network on conserved land along the banks of the Passagassawakeag River. 

The Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition is a group of individuals working to support conservation and stewardship of natural, scenic, historic, and public access resources of the Belfast Bay watershed through research, community-building, and education. For more information, visit www.belfastbaywatershed.org. 

Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve more than 9,000 acres to benefit the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay region. For more information about the Land Trust, please visit www.coastalmountains.org or call (207) 236-7091.