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Mulligan Forest Easement Press Release
 CONTACT:
Jack Savage, VP Communications
(603)224-9945 ext. 330; cell: 603-724-5362
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOREST SOCIETY PARTNERS WITH MANY TO PROTECT 2,036 ACRES IN NOTTINGHAM
Years in the making--Mulligan Forest officially conserved—public access ensured
Concord, N.H., November 26, 2007— On a cloudy turned sunny day in Concord, the Fernald family, Nottingham town officials and representatives from the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), NH Fish and Game, and the Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) gathered at the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (Forest Society) headquarters in Concord to finalize and celebrate the protection of 2,036 acres in Nottingham known as the Mulligan Forest.
“This was a perfect project for the Forest Society, said President/Forester, Jane Difley. “The Fernald family members, through their vision, have ensured public access for hiking, hunting, fishing, and other pedestrian recreation on the Mulligan Forest forever.”
Located within the coastal watershed of southeast New Hampshire, the Mulligan Forest is a large contiguous block of forestland. Owned by the Fernald family for over a century, the property includes well-managed working forestland, six miles of frontage along the Bean and North Rivers, rich wildlife habitat, 365 acres of ponds and wetlands, and five miles of woods roads and trails.
“We really appreciate all of the help from the Forest Society and the town of Nottingham,” said Jim Fernald, part owner of the Mulligan Forest property. “The good feeling will just increase over time especially as our children and their children appreciate the property more and more as time goes on.”
The land will continue to be owned and managed as working forest by the Fernald family. The conservation easement not only protects the land forever from subdivision or development, but ensures public access for recreation such as hiking and hunting. The Forest Society takes on the responsibility for monitoring the easement, and will work with the Fernalds and the Town to establish a parking area and signage for visitors. An public celebration of the opening of the property to the public will take place next summer.
The Mulligan Forest abuts the Lamontagne Wildlife Refuge, which connects to other conservation lands to form a 3,400-acre greenway, ensuring that large mammals such as bear, moose and bobcat will always have room to roam. Mulligan Forest is also a key link toward the goal of connecting nearby Pawtuckaway State Park to Great Bay via conservation lands.
“It’s a very big deal for Nottingham,” said Charlie Brown, Town Administrator. Voters in Nottingham set a record when 96 percent of those at Town Meeting approved $850,000 toward the purchase of the conservation easement.
The Mulligan Forest project’s statewide importance is reflected in the $295,000 granted by LCHIP. "As one of the largest privately-owned forests in southeastern New Hampshire, Mulligan Forest is both rare and extremely valuable in providing extensive opportunities for sustainable forestry, water supply protection, wildlife habitat, and recreation,” said Craig Welch, chair of the board of LCHIP. “We were thrilled to be able to work with the Fernald family, the Town of Nottingham, the Landowner Incentive Program and the Forest Society to preserve this wonderful piece of land. "
The Fernald family sold the conservation easement for 73% of its market value. In addition to the Town bond, LCHIP grant, and LIP funds, the $1.4 total project cost was covered with thanks to more than 450 private donations totaling $275,000. The Forest Society partnered with Bear-Paw Regional Greenways, who provided invaluable local assistance with the project from beginning to end.
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (www.forestsociety.org) is the state’s oldest and largest non-profit land conservation organization. In order to preserve the quality of life New Hampshire residents know today, the goal of the Forest Society, in partnership with other conservation organizations, private landowners, and government, is to conserve an additional one million acres of the state’s most significant natural lands for trails, parks, farms and
forests by 2026.
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