Cheshire County Conservation District

06/05/2026

This Belted Kingfisher is certainly making a splash in our hearts!

It's Forest Cam Friday! How cool is it that we have the opportunity to witness the way wildlife lives in our region, thanks to the work Access Conservation does? For this Belted Kingfisher, this miraculous dive was just a part of everyday life at Distant Hill Gardens. Little does he know how spectacular we humans find it!

Want to see more videos like this? Waddle on over to Access Conservation on Facebook! Learn more about Access Conservation and the work they do here, https://www.accessconservation.org/

Learn more about Distant Hill Gardens and the work they do to make nature accessible to everyone, including our local fauna, https://www.distanthillgardens.org/

06/04/2026

The Cheshire Kids Farm Scholarship was chosen as the June Round It Up Donation Drive at the Monadnock Food Co-op! For the entire month of June, you can round up your dollar for your purchase.

This year we are thrilled to announce that twenty one local youth representing six Cheshire County towns have been awarded the 2026 Cheshire Kids Farm Camp Scholarship award. Towns represented include Keene, Marlborough, Stoddard, Wi******er, Langdon, and Surry. Ten of these scholarships were awarded to youth who participate in the Keene Housing Kids Collaborative Programs. Congratulations to this year's recipients!

All proceeds will go towards further supporting kids like these to attend a farm camp next summer!

Come learn more about this scholarship program from us today, at the Monadnock Food Co-op from 11am to 1:30pm!

Learn more about the Cheshire Kid Farm Camp Scholarship here, www.cheshireconservation.org/cheshire-kids

Learn more about the Round It Up Donation Drives at the Monadnock Food Co-op here, www.monadnockfood.coop/riu/

06/02/2026

Monadnock Outdoors is proud to support Distant Hill Nature trail to announce their brand new all-terrain mobility vehicle from TerrainHopper USA! The TerrainHopper is now available at Distant Hill Nature Trail! Watch the video below to see it in motion!

This is a great resource for anyone with mobility limitations looking to explore the trails to do so, free of charge!

To learn more, contact Hannah Silverblank - [email protected] or visit their website, www.distanthillgardens.org/terrain-hopper/

We conducted our first test drive of the new TerrainHopper mobility vehicle with a wheelchair user. We are asking these consulting users to provide feedback ...

06/01/2026

There have been some updates made to the address and parking information for the Birding on the Farm event this Thursday, June 4th.

This Birding on the Farm Event will not take place at an official farm. A landowner in Walpole has graciously agreed to dedicate their time and land for a Birding workshop! The family has supported a variety of stewardship projects, including installing bat boxes and utilizing mowing rotations within their fields and forests! Therefore, there is no official address for this property, but you can use 1182 County Rd, Walpole, New Hampshire, for directions.

Read more in-depth directions and register here: https://www.cheshireconservation.org/event-details/birding-on-the-farm-a-walk-in-walpole-field-and-forest

05/29/2026

We've POND-ered over it and come to the conclusion that this wood duck is posing for the camera! Thank goodness this video didn't fall through the QUACKS! 🦆

It's Forest Cam Friday! Once again, Access Conservation is coming in hot with some video evidence of the incredible range of biodiversity in our region. We couldn't be happier to share these videos weekly!

Want to see more videos like this? Waddle on over Access Conservation on Facebook! Learn more about Access Conservation and the work they do here, https://www.accessconservation.org/

05/28/2026

Peak spring bird migration is starting to dwindle! This may be your last chance this Spring to see some of our favorite migratory bird species! Register today and join us on June 4th for another exciting opportunity to bird on farms throughout our region! Learn new skills and about wildlife conservation on the farm!

This Birding on the Farm Event will not take place at an official farm. A landowner in Walpole has graciously agreed to dedicate their time and land for a Birding workshop! The family has supported a variety of stewardship projects, including installing bat boxes and utilizing mowing rotations within their fields and forests!
Please park behind the gate and into the clearing upon arriving.

Register Here, www.cheshireconservation.org/event-details/birding-on-the-farm-a-walk-in-walpole-field-and-forest

Presented by Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District (Windham NRCD), Southeastern Vermont Audubon, Monadnock Outdoors, and the Monadnock Bird and Nature Club!

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Image Description: A graphic of two birds sitting on a branch in front of a white background fills the left side. To the right, a dark green background cuts the image doesn the middle. Text reads, Birding on the Farm Workshop Series, +HF3, Walpole NH. Join us for an exciting opportunity yo bird on farms throughout our region! Learn new skills, and learn more about wildlife conservation on the farm! June 4th @ 7AM-9AM, +HF3, Walpole NH. This event was partially funded through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Long Island Sound Futures Fund."

05/27/2026

Are You Buzzing with Excitement Yet? Pollinator Palooza is Next Month!

Join us for an afternoon of learning and celebration of pollinators in honor of National Pollinator Week! Learn more from organizations throughout our region, and enjoy games and activities for participants of all ages!

When: Saturday, June 27th, 11:00AM-2:00PM
Where: Ashuelot River Park, Keene, NH

Learn More Here, www.cheshireconservation.org/event-details/2026-pollinator-palooza

Presented by Cheshire County Conservation District, the City of Keene Parks and Recreation, Friends of the Ashuelot River Park, Keene Public Library, Monadnock Beekeepers Association, Monadnock Outdoors, The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, The USDA Farm Service Agency, Westmoreland 4-H, Xerces Society, Windham County Conservation District, Access Conservation, Keene Bee City, Monadnock Conservancy, Monadnock Youth Coalition, and Healthy Home Habitats.

Thank you to our sponsors: Antioch University New England Community Garden Connections, Savings Bank of Walpole, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Farm Credit East, Walden Mutual, and Mascoma Bank.

05/26/2026

Late May is prime time for the Eastern Meadowlark to begin sitting on its new eggs!

The female builds her nest on the ground using dried grasses and plant stems, sometimes even constructing an intricate roof over the nest to help conceal the eggs. She lays 3 to 6 speckled eggs and incubates them for two weeks, rarely leaving the nest except to feed!

The time is right to conserve these nests for the next generation of Eastern Meadowlarks! How can we ensure these nests stay safe when mowing and haying practices are also imperative this time of year?

The Connecticut River Valley Grassland Bird Project increases the nesting success of grassland birds in the Connecticut River Valley by providing information, technical support, and financial assistance to landowners and farmers who manage hayfields. Call Kate to learn more about bobolink-friendly field management on your farm (contact info at this link), www.windhamcountynrcd.org/connecticut-river-valley-grassland-bird-project

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Image Description: Leaf green background on the left side. An image of the spotted Eastern Meadowlark eggs in a nest sits on the right side. Text reads from left to right: "Connecticut River Valley Grassland Bird Project. Late May is prime time for the Eastern Meadowlark to begin sitting on its new eggs! The female builds her nest on the ground using dried grasses and plant stems, sometimes even constructing an intricate roof over the nest to help conceal the eggs. She lays 3 to 6 speckled eggs and incubates them for two weeks, rarely leaving the nest except to feed. Learn more about how you can conserve grassland birds: windhamcountynrcd.org/connecticut-river-valley-grassland-bird-project"

05/20/2026

Through community support and effort, The Monadnock Conservancy worked with Milton to forever conserve his 55-acre, Five Sigma Farm in Sullivan, New Hampshire!

We are proud to have been a part of this easement through the support of the NH Farm Future Fund. Alongside other community funders and partners, the NH Farm Future Fund helped make this incredible feat possible!

Learn more about this easement here, https://www.monadnockconservancy.org/conserve/success-stories/five-sigma-farm

Learn more about the New Hampshire Farm Future Fund here, https://www.cheshireconservation.org/nhfff

05/19/2026

CCCD's May Farmer Newsletter is now available! Read about the latest grant opportunities, trainings, and resources for farmers in our region: https://conta.cc/3RdhqN2

Are you a farmer, producer, grower, or service provider? Subscribe to our website to receive the monthly farmer news directly in your inbox: https://www.cheshireconservation.org/newsletter

Image Description: Image of CCCD Logo in front of a farm with cows and red barn. Image reads, "Farmer News May 2026".