Ausbon Sargent
Land Preservation Trust
Ausbon Sargent Welcomes New Executive Director
The Ausbon Sargent board and staff are pleased to announce the arrival of incoming Executive Director, Ben Wallace. Ben comes to Ausbon Sargent after 22 years of working in the land protection business. He has worked in stewardship, program and organizational management, project fundraising, policy, regulation, and environmental science.
Ben said that he is thrilled to move from California to New Hampshire with his family and is excited about joining the land trust community.
He shared that as a frequent visitor of his grandparents in Elkins, he grew up hiking, swimming, canoeing, skiing, and snowshoeing in the Mt. Kearsarge/Ragged/Lake Sunapee region and has a deep appreciation for the work ASLPT has done to protect its rural character. He looks forward to working with the Board, staff, volunteers, and easement partners to preserve the beautiful farms, woodlands, and watersheds in the place he calls home.
Ben's wife, Julie Paulson, is a scholar of English literature and disability studies. They are both delighted to give their children the opportunity to experience four seasons.
Debbie Stanley, retiring Executive Director, said she is pleased that there is an eight-week period to train and help acclimate Ben to the position, insuring a smooth transition.
125-Acre Aldrich Property Protected in Wilmot
On January 13, 2023 the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust finalized the donation of a conservation easement on 125 acres of land in Wilmot, NH. "Pound Woodland Preserve" is very close to the Cassey Brook Preserve, which was purchased by the land trust in 2020. The property includes the headwaters of Cassey Brook, and a portion of it is ranked highest for wildlife habitat in the state. These 125 acres, owned by Ken and Nola Aldrich, have been identified as an important area for protection in the Wilmot Master Plan.
When asked why protecting this property was so important to them, Nola offered:
"We wanted to protect the open space and also keep it available for outdoor recreation."
Ken and Nola enjoy walking on the property's trails, and are pleased to be able to share their land with the public. This property will be open for low-impact recreational uses, such as hiking, running, and bird-watching.
We are thankful to the Aldrich family for entrusting Ausbon Sargent with the stewardship of their special place, forever.
Help Protect the Bradford Bog Headwaters Property
Update: LCHIP Funding Awarded December 14, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE
The Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust is partnering with the Bradford Conservation Commission and the Rural Heritage Connection of Bradford to protect a 71.66-acre property on East Washington Road in Bradford, NH. This property is deemed ecologically valuable by the US Dept. of Agriculture and is within the Quabbin to Mount Cardigan (Q2C) conservation focus area of national importance. Comprised of a vigorous regenerating woodland area, this property is also valuable for the habitat it affords for threatened wildlife, especially many varieties of birds that are decreasing at an alarming rate in our region.. The benefits to surrounding watersheds and places like the nearby Abenaki ancient healing springs site and the Atlantic White Cedar bog and wildflower sanctuary, are also important. This property will also be open for low-impact recreational use. For more details about this project, or to donate please click HERE.
