Jefferson resident Janet Stetser has donated a 90-acre woodland property in the Sheepscot River watershed to the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association (SVCA). This is the second piece of land she has donated, having previously given the association an abutting 60-acre parcel. The 90-acre parcel, located just off Egypt Road in south Jefferson, is entirely wooded and contains excellent wildlife habitat. Stetser says that over the years she has seen deer, moose, beaver, raccoon, fox, and many rabbits on the property. Among her bird sightings have been Pileated, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Evening and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, nuthatches, Mourning Doves, and Barred and Great Horned Owls. The property abuts a pond and stream that feed into Ben Brook, a tributary of the Sheepscot.

Her goal in donating the property to SVCA was to protect the land from further development, to protect wildlife habitat and to provide opportunities for non-motorized recreation, low-impact use, trails and educational activities as well as sustainable forestry. The property has been selectively logged for the past 20 years and so is relatively easily negotiated on logging trails.

"I feel very strongly that if we do not set aside property now, we will not have any later," Stetson said. "My hope for the future would be to see people hiking, bird watching and just enjoying the out-of-doors in this peaceful and safe location that is close to home for local people. School science classes could use the space to learn more about the natural world."

"Janet has made a wonderful gift to the land and the community," said SVCA president Honor Fox Sage. The property is located within a 5,000-acre tract with no roads.

"Large un-fragmented blocks are important as they can support or buffer fully functioning ecosystems, provide ecosystem services such as water purification, provide habitat to wide-ranging species, buffer rare natural communities, provide economically viable scale to forest management and provide areas for research within a more naturally functioning landscape."

The SVCA is a member-supported land trust and advocacy organization founded in 1969 to conserve the natural and historic heritage of the Sheepscot watershed. Through conservation easements and trusts, SVCA now protects more than 2,200 acres of land including 13 miles of Sheepscot River frontage. For more information, contact the office at 624 Sheepscot Road, Newcastle, ME, 04553, 586-5616, e-mail svca@ sheepscot.org, or visit us online at www.sheepscot.org.