Celebrate Great Maine Outdoor Weekend and the opening of KELT's newest preserve in Bath
Bath, Maine - The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) invites the public to celebrate the opening of the newest preserve, Lilly Pond Community Forest, on Saturday, September 27 at 12:30pm during Great Maine Outdoor Weekend. Attendees will join KELT staff and the former land owners to get a guided tour of the property trails, learn the land's conservation story, and enjoy delicious autumn treats. This is a free, family-friendly event.
One of the last remaining large undeveloped blocks of land in Bath, Lilly Pond Community Forest contains 146 acres of forested ridgeline and significant wetlands. The preserve protects 900 feet of frontage on Lilly Pond, the headwaters of Whiskeag Creek and a tributary of the Kennebec River. Home to a variety of wildlife like beaver, deer, porcupine, and a plethora of songbirds, the preserve has essential breeding sites for native amphibians like the spotted salamander.
Historically, the preserve was part of the 200 acre William Marshall farm settled in 1760. The Krejsa Family Trust purchased the wooded hilltop in 2000 with conservation in mind. For many years, the family documented plant and animal species seen in the preserve and researched the historical heritage of the land.
In the spring of this year, the Krejsa Family Trust transferred the land to KELT in a generous bargain
