News

Hope Woods, October 28th, 2018. Photo by: Brooke Larrabee.

 The Kennebunk Land Trust (KLT)  has entered an exciting new collaboration with two local organizations, the Friends of Hope Woods and the Hope Cemetery Corporation. Hope Woods is located on Barnard Lane, just off of Rt. 1 in Kennebunk. The Cemetery owns 72 acres of undeveloped forest and open meadows situated directly behind the cemetery. KLT is partnering to conserve this land through a conservation easement. The 72 acres is comprised of a 2-mile network of trails and an abundance of wildlife; it provides a natural oasis of open space adjacent to Kennebunk’s bustling downtown area. It is an exceptional recreational area containing a constellation of giant cedars, copper beech trees, a large hemlock grove, and many towering pines.

Today, Hope Cemetery finds itself struggling to maintain the cemetery, placing the future of Hope Woods in question. Through this partnership, we hope to raise funds to create a permanent sanctuary of tranquility and natural beauty in the heart of downtown Kennebunk, where residents and visitors alike can seek peace and rejuvenate on lands linked to our past.

Harvest Festival 2018 marked the launch of the public phase of this campaign. KLT has pledged a gift of $50,000 with an opportunity for up to a $100,000 public match. We hope this gift inspires greater public support to conserve this green space located in the heart of our village! Check our  website’s calendar or follow us on social media to learn of upcoming guided walks of the preserve.

Last Fall, The Kennebunk Land Trust (KLT) engaged in a unique project with Google that allows the public to virtually experience many of the Trust’s preserves. The Land Trust used the Google Street View Trekker, a wearable backpack with a camera system. The Trekker is worn and walked through pedestrian walkways or trails on foot, automatically gathering images as it goes. That imagery is then stitched together to create the 360-degree panoramas you see today in Google Maps. Staff and volunteers walked several of the Kennebunk Land Trust’s most visited preserves, using the camera to record the walks. Anyone from across the globe can now virtually experience these areas as a result of this collaboration with Google. The goal of this project is to enhance access to the natural environment and foster new connections with a broader audience. This virtual trail system will aid in ensuring that these preserves can be enjoyed by all, regardless of age, ability, or distance.

Land Trust sites that were trekked are listed below. Click on the link of each site to begin your own virtual walk. Though not a KLT preserve, Hope Woods was selected because of the Land Trust’s new partnership to protect the woods through a conservation easement. All of the walks were recorded in Autumn to highlight the beautiful Fall foliage.

The Kennebunk Land Trust, founded in 1972, has conserved over 3,400 acres throughout its history, including the Kennebunk Plains. KLT is a membership driven organization and relies on its dedicated members and volunteers to achieve its mission of permanently conserving and stewarding land for both natural and human communities. Visit www.kennebunklandtrust.org or call 207-985-8734 to learn more.

List of Sites:

Hope Woods

Wonder Brook Preserve

Oxbow Preserve

Mousam River Wildlife Sanctuary

Secret Garden Preserve

Butler Preserve

Alewive Woods Preserve