Well-Known 140-acre Atkinson Property Donated by the Schafer Family and Conserved by SELT in Partnership with the Town of Atkinson
ATKINSON– On August 8, thanks to a generous land donation from the Schafer Family and in partnership with the Town of Atkinson, the Southeast Land Trust of NH (SELT) acquired and permanently conserved the 140-acre Schafer Woods in Atkinson, NH.
This beloved property had been assembled and stewarded over time by Dr. Rick Schafer, who designed and created over two miles of trails on the property that he allowed the community to access and enjoy.
After acquiring Schafer Woods, SELT will continue to make the trails available to the public. SELT is currently in the process of making trail improvements, installing signage and installing a parking lot which will be located at the end of Commerce Drive.
“These are very well-designed trails that have withstood the test of time due to incredible work done by Dr. Schafer and a cadre of volunteers that worked with him,” said Duane Hyde, Land Conservation Director for SELT. “Based on the Town’s assessed value of the property, Schafer Woods is the highest value land gift in SELT’s history.”
Beyond the trails, Schafer Woods features a wealth of natural resources including a large beaver pond along Hogg Hill Brook, a mature forest, and key wildlife habitat and important wildlife corridors allowing animals to move between a network of conserved lands.
“This is the culmination of a long, long process,” said Paul Wainwright, Chair of the Atkinson Conservation Commission. “Schafer Woods is a really secluded piece of nature, and is in a part of the state that is rapidly being developed. Now it will be available for future generations to enjoy.”
When Dr. Schafer and his wife moved to Atkinson in 1983, they purchased a home with a beautiful view. His first purchase of a few additional acres directly behind his home was simply born of a desire to preserve the view and enjoy access to the pond, streams, and woodlands. But very quickly, Dr. Schafer and his family realized that the land was too valuable as a natural resource to let it be developed, and the desire to see it conserved and protected was born.
“Over time, the pressure to sell or develop the land intensified, yet Rick and the family remained firm in their shared desire to protect the land, the natural resources, and the critical wildlife habitat it provides,” said family member Rebecca Schafer. “The interest and funding provided by the Town of Atkinson and the Atkinson Conservation Commission, coupled with the stewardship and expertise of SELT have provided the perfect pathway for us to preserve this land, as well as the legacy of Dr. Schafer’s efforts over many decades. It is our hope that it will remain in its natural state for generations to come for all to respect and enjoy.”
