Kennebunk Land Trust Welcomes The Community Back to The Secret Garden Trail

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Kennebunk Land Trust Welcomes The Community Back to The Secret Garden Trail

Kennebunk, ME - After five years of anticipation, Kennebunk Land Trust (KLT) is thrilled to announce the grand opening of The Secret Garden, a newly re-established trail opened in partnership with Evergreen Cemetery.

Closed to the public since 2020, this enchanting trail will once again welcome the community to discover its natural beauty. The Secret Garden invites visitors to wander through peaceful woodlands, encounter plant and animal life, and experience the kind of quiet reflection that makes this space truly unique. The Secret Garden trail head can be found at the back of the Evergreen Cemetery on Port Road. A parking area has been marked to the right of the trail entrance. Please respect the Evergreen Cemetery rules and observe all outdoor safety guideline

“We are thrilled for this announcement,” said Sandy Gilbreath, KLT Executive Director. “The Secret Garden is a valued gem in our community, and we are proud to open it once more. Thanks to the partnership with Evergreen Cemetery, we can share this place with everyone who seeks more connection to nature.”

The reopening of The Secret Garden highlights KLT’s commitment to conserving special places and ensuring the community can enjoy them, and celebrates Evergreen Cemetery’s close ties to the community. The trail offers an opportunity to step into a natural sanctuary right in the heart of Kennebunk, and is closed to hunting.

Ongoing Maintenance

Through this partnership, Evergreen Cemetery and KLT are opening access to a unique space that blends cultural heritage with natural conservation. Thanks to the support of our members, donors, and awesome volunteers, we’ve cleared debris and downed trees, improved water crossings, added new directional trail blazes, and created a new trail map. As the trail continues to be restored after years of closure, we encourage visitors to travel with care while we upgrade the parking area, rebuild bridges, and update mapping and signage. For more information about The Secret Garden trail, visit kennebunklandtrust.org/preserves/the-secret-garden.

Support our Local Food Security Organizations for a Nature-themed Food and Fundraising event!

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Give & Get Outdoors!

We are excited for a chance to support the work of the three local food security organizations, through a nature walk program. Enjoy a reflective walk through the woods and get some goodies after supporting our community service organizations.

Supporting  Community Outreach Services, The Community Gourmet and Go Kennebunks The Little Pantry

Food event poster 2025 (1)

Join us at the Nonantum for our Annual Meeting and Social, Nov. 12th

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Enjoy a welcoming social hour with light snacks and cocktails, followed by:

- ✨ A Year-in-Review celebrating our conservation milestones
- 🌲 A Featured Presentation from outdoor inclusion specialists Enoch Glidden and Kara Wooldrik, sharing ways we can make our preserves more welcoming and accessible for everyone.

This annual gathering is a wonderful opportunity to learn, mingle, and celebrate all we’ve accomplished together.

We look forward to seeing you there!  REGISTER HERE

Soaring Skies Soiree at The Colony

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Join us and enjoy beautiful views on The Colony's Ocean Porch with drinks, bites, and a celebration of conservation! Enjoy live music from Paul Chase Jr!

Register Here 

The Soiree is also the culmination of the Nature's Canvas: Unveiled art auction!

Local artists have been creating pieces celebrating KLT's preserves, and the online auction for those pieces will go live on Monday July 7th, closing on July 10th at 7 p.m.  Learn more or bid: https://fundraiser.bid/naturescanvas