Chester, NH Conservation Commission

10/11/2026

Don't miss this event to get some free seeds to grow a variety of native plants in your yard.

Once you get them started, they require much less care than the non-native plants and annuals.

Look for information online about winter sowing to plant the seeds now and have seedlings coming up in the Spring.

SAVE THE DATE!
Our 8th annual seed swap and giveaway will be held on November 14th in Portsmouth NH, this year. We will set up at the Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, 9-2. We hope to see you again.

09/23/2026

Have you seen a bald eagle flying over Chester?

100 bald eagle chicks fledged their nests in New Hampshire this year, the most since the population was near extinction about 40 years ago.

09/23/2026

09/23/2026

09/23/2026

Some ways of handling your leaves help. Others hurt. Where do you fall on this list?

Leaving your leaves where they fall does the most good. It's the richest habitat for overwintering insects, toads, and salamanders, while feeding your soil.

Bagging, burning, or trashing does the opposite. It removes both the habitat and the nutrients your yard needs.

Everything in between still counts. Even one step up this list helps.

Full guide at the link in comments.

09/17/2026

We will be there, stop by and say hello.

THIS SATURDAY, Sept 19th, from 10-4!
Join us for a the Spring Hill Farm Fall Fest! Its going to be a great day of fun!
Loads of vendors, lots of yummy treats!

Free apple c***r demonstrations, live music, a fun area for free games, crafts and races, handicraft demonstations, raffle items.

FREE Model-T rides and Hay Wagon Rides!

So much to do!

Spring Hill Farm, 96 Towle Rd, Chester.

09/05/2026

Watch out for baby turtles 🐢

It’s turtle hatching season! When hatchlings begin migrating, they can become trapped by obstacles like vertical curbs and stormwater drains. That’s why we work with project owners proposing projects in Blanding's turtle habitat to install turtle-friendly curbing and finer drain grates to prevent falls. Smart design features help turtles and people travel safely.

09/04/2026

!! This !! If you want to see birds, leave your twigs, leaves, native plants, sprouting trees for the food insects to thrive and for bird shelter.

09/03/2026

🚨TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT OUR TURTLES FROM CRUELTY🚨

Under current NH Fish & Game rules, it is completely legal to capture non-listed turtle species (e.g., painted turtles) by hand or by net outside of the protected nesting season (May 15 - July 15) and then do whatever you want with them.

You may have read our recent post about Oka, the painted turtle that was taken while nesting and stomped on by Charles Puccio in addition to many other turtles he killed on Bog Road in Hillsborough.

Did you know that if he had picked up Oka anytime before May 15th or after July 15th, he would have been able to stomp her to death with total impunity? It would be completely legal for him to kill up to two painted turtles per day, as long as he physically picks them up first.

This is a huge gap in the protections afforded to our native turtle species, and it needs to change.

Since the story about Oka broke, we have been surprised by the amount of attention it has received, and very encouraged about the outpouring of public support and desire to better protect turtles in New Hampshire.

We know people want change, and we have been diligently working on a solution to meet that demand.

On September 1st, Drew and Dallas submitted “Oka’s Rule”, a petition to NH Fish & Game under RSA 541-A:4 and Fis 214.01 to initiate rulemaking proceedings to amend the Fish & Game rules to close the gap in protections for non-listed native turtle species.

Turtles are extremely long lived compared to other wildlife and take a very long time to reach reproductive age. The stability of their populations is heavily reliant on adults remaining in the wild long-term. Allowing the “take” of these species has far reaching impacts.

To read the entire petition and the statement of reasons supporting the petitions, go to the link in the comments below.

Now, it’s your turn to let NH Fish & Game know that you support stronger protections for our native turtles!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

- Reach out to NHFG’s Executive Director at [email protected]
- Let them know you support the petition for “Oka’s Rule”
- Share this post and ask your friends to lend their support as well

Together, we can make a meaningful change to protect turtles in the Granite State! 💚🐢

08/30/2026