20th Annual New Hampshire Tree Farm Field Day

The NH Tree Farm Committee has selected Igor Blake as the 2009 NH Outstanding Tree Farmer. The award recognizes Igor's long history of stewardship which recently included donating a conservation easement to UVLT. The field day is a celebration of Igor Blake's stewardship and an educational event for people to learn about all aspects of managing and caring for forestland. The morning session will include several tours of Mr. Blake's property, as well as other educational activities. Lunch is a chicken barbeque and pig roast with an award presentation, raffle and silent auction. The event will take place rain or shine on Saturday, September 19th, 9am - 3pm at the Blake Family Tree Farm, 456 Oak Street, Newport, NH. For more information call the NH Tree Farm Program office: (603) 224-9945, or find the printable brochure with directions to the Blake Tree Farm at http://extension.unh.edu/forestry/Docs/2009NHTREEFARM.pdf

Thanks Go to UVLT's Terrific Summer Interns!

Jay Buckey

When UVLT Conservation Project Manager, James Thaxton, interviewed Jay at Vermont Law School back in February he was impressed with Jay's enthusiasm for land conservation and his willingness to take on a challenge. After completing his work here, we now know that he has fortitude as well - that is the ability to confront fear, risk, danger, uncertainty and intimidation.

This summer Jay took on some knotty legal problems. He tackled reversionary interests, the sale of timber rights, flowage agreements, and beaver dam liability. He learned to research property title, and he learned how to cure title defects found in the course of researching property titles. (Feel free to ask him about converting rods and links to feet and inches.)

He drafted deeds, conservation easements, amendments, and purchase and sales agreements. He filled out tax forms, budgets, and settlement statements. He also researched and reported on the Farm Service Agency, foreclosures, the Federal Register, the Federal Highway Administration, riparian buffers, public access, and landowner liability.

Jay’s enthusiasm and fortitude has helped make this summer a productive and successful one for the Land Trust.

Aime Schwartz

When UVLT was searching for a candidate for the Patchen Miller Internship this past summer, we knew we found our mark when Aime Schwartz popped up on the land trust radar! Aime had graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colby College with a degree in both Environmental Policy and International Studies…and from her impressive application, we knew she was up to the challenge of working with our busy land trust!

Aime’s work with the Stewardship Department over the 10 weeks of her internship was absolutely wonderful. We all enjoyed her infectious smile and quick wit…independently coming and going while tending to trail and campsite issues, working on management plans, monitoring, and being the all-around “go to” person when something needed to be done. Aime’s organizational skills shined while compiling and consolidating information on all of the UVLT trails and the UVLT managed canoe campsites. And while you may not immediately “see” some of the results of her work, you should know that those of us here at the Land Trust (and those walkers and paddlers among us) will reap the benefits for years to come. Aime is back in her home state of Colorado; we all wish her the very best of luck in her next adventures!

Thank you, Jay & Aime!

UVLT Receives Grant for Clay Brook Trail

UVLT was recently awarded a grant of $2000 from the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Fund. UVLT was one of just 24 organizations selected from across the entire United States. The grant will be used for public trail improvements of the Clay Brook Trail system near Lyme, NH. With the help of local volunteers, the Connecticut River Joint Commissions and the Lyme Conservation Commission, the Clay Brook Trail was initially established to link other trails and walkways across several conserved properties and the Lyme Town Forest. Unfortunately, the trail has been temporarily closed due to overgrowth, needed improvements, and logging complications which have obstructed access to portions of the trail. The American Hiking Society grant (see www.americanhiking.org/NTF.aspx) will enable UVLT and area volunteers to complete much-needed trail improvements and to continue recreational maintenance efforts on other trails throughout the area. The Clay Brook Trail is part of UVLT’s network of 23 public trails in the Upper Valley. To access information about trails and recreational opportunities, please visit www.uvlt.org/trails.