In May, 2011, Helen Holman donated a 75-acre conservation easement to KLT that features early successional woodlands and wetlands with valuable wildlife habitat bordered by Maggoty Meadow Brook.
Since purchasing this land in 2005, Helen has filled and leveled gravel pits and worked to restore a landscape where timber, gravel, and loam had been removed. Former gravel pits are now dominated by grey birch (Betula populifolia), white birch (Betula papyrifera), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) in the uplands, and northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and balsam fir in the wetlands.
Helen still owns the property. Her conservation easement with KLT protects important wildlife habitat and other natural resources, grants public access for low impact recreational activities, and prohibits residential and commercial development.
Public uses: This KLT conservation easement is open to the public for hiking, cross-country skiing, and other low impact non-motorized recreation, including nature observation, and bicycling. Land owner permission is required for hunting. No ATV’s are permitted. Public access is from Melanie Lane, a private road off of Upper Pond Road. The public can drive on Melanie Lane. After approximately 1,300 feet look for a KLT sign and registration box with trail maps. Winter access: Park on Melanie Lane at the end of plowed section of the road.
Directions from Gardiner area: Take Rt. 201 south from Gardiner. Just over 3 miles south of the Rt. 295 interchange, turn right onto Thorofare Road. Turn left on the Plains Road. Travel about 0.25 miles and take a left on Upper Pond Road. After ~ 0.5 miles, take a right onto Melanie Lane. A KLT sign and registration box is about 0.2 of a mile from Upper Pond Road.
From Lewiston area: Take Rt. 126 toward Gardiner. Just past Waterman Farm Machinery, turn right onto Rt. 197. At Litchfield Corner (watch for the Brick School on the right), turn left onto the Hallowell Road. Turn right onto the Plains Road, passing the Fairgrounds on the left. Pass over the Turnpike and turn right on the Upper Pond Road; after ~ 0.5 miles turn right on to Melanie Lane.
Brian Kent
Brian Kent