Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust

08/17/2026

Where does the Ammonoosuc River begin?

High in the Presidential Range, water leaving the Lakes of the Clouds begins a roughly 60-mile journey west toward the Connecticut River—flowing through many of the communities and landscapes at the heart of ACT’s conservation work.

This video was taken near its beginnings, more than 5,000 feet above sea level. From these small alpine lakes, the Ammonoosuc flows down from the mountains and through forests, farms, conserved lands, and communities—including the Ammonoosuc Riverlands in Bethlehem, where ACT protects 2.5 miles of river frontage.

It’s a great reminder that the places we conserve downstream are connected to the mountains and waters far above them—and that the lands ACT protects help support communities and ecosystems farther downstream.

08/12/2026

Last week, we were fortunate to have one of our own community members, Dr. Anji Seth, give an illuminating talk on Climate Change and Extreme Weather in the North Country.

Anji explored how large-scale climate dynamics, including unusually strong El Niño events, interact with local phenomena like the “Bungay Jar” to shape weather and climate here in the North Country. She also discussed what these changes mean for our communities and how conservation can help build resilience in a changing climate.

ACT is proud to provide opportunities like this for our community to learn, connect, and better understand the forces shaping the places we call home.

Thank you to Dr. Seth for sharing your knowledge and insights, and to everyone who joined us!

08/10/2026

Its always a blast spending time at the Littleton Farmers Market! Thanks again for having us

You are most welcome !

"Thank you so much for inviting ACT to table at the Farmers Market yesterday. Our volunteers had a wonderful time connecting with attendees, sharing information about our work, and learning more about the community members who stopped by.
We appreciate the opportunity to participate and be part of such a vibrant community event and look forward to future opportunities to join you."

08/10/2026

It's Official!! Exciting conservation news:

ACT is pleased to share that we have officially closed on the purchase of 44 acres in Sugar Hill, located on D**e Road. This new conservation area will be known as the Hadley Hill Conservation Area.

The property includes seven acres of open field for pollinators and other wildlife, with the remaining acreage in regenerating forest. It sits near several important conserved lands, including the Stewart sugarbush, Bronson Hill, and Cooley-Jericho Community Forest.

Together, these lands help protect an undeveloped corridor of approximately 1,600 acres, supporting wildlife movement, biodiversity, and long-term landscape resilience. The property also offers future public benefit through the potential for a hiking trail connection between Bronson Hill and Cooley-Jericho Community Forest.

This project was made possible entirely by community support. Because of time constraints, it did not fit normal grant funding cycles, and community members stepped up with gifts large and small to make it happen.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped protect Hadley Hill Conservation Area and honored to steward this land in perpetuity for the benefit of the community, the landscape, and the wildlife that call it home.

If you are interested in helping ACT conserve more of the local lands we all know and love, please consider making a donation here: https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/ammonoosuc-conservation-trust/2024-donation-form

08/07/2026

Our land stewards and volunteers work incredibly hard to keep our trails in great shape for the community, so it brings us such joy to hear positive feedback from our partners at Adaptive Sports Partners. We’re especially grateful to see that these trails are helping people of all abilities get outside, connect with nature, and enjoy the places we all love so much. Thank you ASP!

🥾Happy Trails! 🥾

We have some great volunteers and some great athletes on Mondays and Fridays for hiking this summer. Gibbs Cabin is one of our favorites to hike to, and is one of our more traditional hiking locations. We appreciate our fellow non-profit Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust for maintaining the land and keeping it beautiful for the community's use.

08/05/2026

What a wonderful event! It was great to see so many partners, friends, and new faces from across the community who are passionate about outdoor recreation and conservation.

We’re especially grateful to Rek-Lis Brewing Company for generously donating a portion of the proceeds to ACT. Every dollar will go directly toward conserving the local lands, rivers, and trails we all love so much.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support conservation, connect with the community, and celebrate the outdoors. We already can’t wait for next year’s Rek-Fest!

07/31/2026

07/27/2026

Explore ACT's New Ammonoosuc Riverlands property at REK FEST!!

Join the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust this Saturday for a guided nature walk with our Stewardship Manager, Conor McCourt through our newly protected Ammonoosuc Riverlands in Bethlehem.

This leisurely 4.75-mile hike will explore more than 750 acres of conserved land, featuring beaver ponds, mature forests, riparian wetlands, floodplain forests, and scenic views along the Ammonoosuc River. Along the way, we'll share the conservation story of this remarkable property and discuss its future as a destination for recreation and wildlife.

📍 Meet: 1539 Prospect Street, Bethlehem
🕘 Meet between: 9:15–9:30 a.m. (hike begins at 9:35)
🥾 Distance: Approx. 4.75 miles (with a shorter option available)
🐕 Dogs on leash are welcome!

Best of all, every REK FEST ticket purchased helps support the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust and our work to conserve the forests, farms, waterways, and trails that make the North Country such a special place.

We'd love to see you on the trail!

Register today through REK FEST before spots fill!

Hiking, Biking, Climbing, Fishing, Running... The White Mountains have it all and we are calling outdoor enthausists to come party with us!

07/24/2026

More land protected. More habitat conserved. More reasons to celebrate. 🌿 Check out this article highlighting ACT’s latest conservation success!

Please consider donating to help ACT conserve more of our local lands in the north country.

https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/ammonoosuc-conservation-trust/2024-donation-form

Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust protects 152 acres of forestland in Millsfield and Stratford

REGION — Approximately 154 acres of forestland in northern New Hampshire are now permanently protected, thanks to the conservation efforts of Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT), local landowners, and project partners.
The newly completed conservation easements include the approximately 115-acre Sheldon Conservation Area in Millsfield and the 37-acre Wildwoods Conservation Area in Stratford. Together, these projects protect working forests, wildlife habitat, wetlands, clean water resources, outdoor recreation and climate-resilient landscapes in New Hampshire’s North Country.
The Sheldon Conservation Area is located on Route 26, a scenic highway also known as the Moose Path Trail, well known for moose sightings and wild river flows, and includes forestland, wetlands, and streams that feed into the Androscoggin River. Conservation will allow the land to remain a working forest, with a formal forest management plan required before timber harvests to help ensure water quality and wildlife protection. The property also hosts a snowmobile/ATV trail that connects to a larger network of outdoor recreation trails across the surrounding landscape. It is located within The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Landscape Network, which encourages conservation of lands important for climate resiliency, biodiversity, and wildlife connectivity.
The Wildwoods Conservation Area is entirely forested with primarily northern hardwood-conifer forest. It contributes to one of the largest unfragmented forest blocks in the ecoregion and lies within a globally important bird area. Much of the property has also been identified by The Nature Conservancy as part of a larger forest block important for climate resiliency. This property will be conserved as a “Forever Wild” easement and allowed to develop over time into an old growth forest.
Conservation of these lands was made possible through the generosity and commitment of the landowners, with grant funding from The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Tillotson Foundation, two private foundations, and ACT donors.
Support from TNC was provided through its Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program. TNC is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends, and works with local communities, governments, private partners, and conservation organizations to advance land and water conservation at scale.
“These projects protect the forests, waters, wildlife habitat, and rural character that make the North Country special,” said Rosalind Page, Executive Director of ACT. “We are grateful to the landowners and partners who made these conservation easements possible. Their generosity will help keep these lands healthy, connected, and open for generations to come. We look forward to working with more landowners in Coös County to protect the land they love in the years ahead.”
ACT hopes these projects will encourage more landowners in the region to consider conservation as a way to protect the lands they love. ACT is also grateful to the consultants, staff, board members, committee volunteers, funders, and community partners whose support helped bring these projects to completion.
The Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust works with landowners and community partners to permanently protect land in New Hampshire’s North Country for public benefit. ACT preserves farms, wild and working forests, waterways, and places of natural, cultural, and recreational importance. We help build healthy communities by creating opportunities for meaningful connections to the natural world and to each other. Conservation takes community support, and we are so grateful to be protecting the lands you love in the North Country.
To learn more about the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust, events, and conservation projects, visit act-nh.org or call (603) 823-7777.

07/22/2026

ACT-Ready to conserve 44 acres on D**e Road in Sugar Hill!

Our local community has spoken deeply of its desire to protect these 44 Acres to be known as the Hadley Hill Conservation Area. Uniquely positioned to provide connectivity between the conservation areas of Cooley Jericho Community Forest and Bronson Hill, this parcel will become protected from development for perpetuity.

Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT) has now successfully positioned the organization for the upcoming purchase of the property from Split Rock Partners. ACT is thankful to have had such an amazing fundraising response from the community, the Sugar Hill Conservation Commission as well as funding from ACT's Conservation Action Fund. ACT has also completed all necessary due diligence in support of this project.

ACT, along with it's donors , look forward to closing on this transaction and moving forward in its stewardship role of Hadley Hill Conservation Area in the next two weeks. Please stay tuned!

Please donate to ACT below so we can protect more local lands we all love so much! https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/ammonoosuc-conservation-trust/2024-donation-form