Easement Preserves Working Cattle, Sheep Farm in Epping
EXETER – On May 4, the Southeast Land Trust of NH (SELT) completed a conservation easement on Clarke Farm, a 300-acre, grass-based livestock operation that straddles the towns of Newmarket and Epping. Jack and Linda Clarke originally purchased the property in 1977. The farm raises cattle and sheep on pasture, selling their meats into the local food market.
A 175-acre portion of the property will be secured with an Agricultural Land Easement (ALE), ensuring that the land will be preserved for agricultural use forever. Another 33 acres of forested wetlands on the property will also be protected by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
“There are so many reasons why conserving this property is important, but the heart of why we’re doing this is to protect our local farms and our ability to produce food here in New Hampshire,” said Jeremy Lougee, Conservation Project Manager and Farmland Coordinator for SELT. “One of the many things we’ve learned from this pandemic is the fragility of our food supply. When the grocery stores run out, it becomes easier to see just how important our local farms and farmers really are.”
The Clarke Farm is rich with biodiversity, sitting between more than 4,800 acres of existing conservation land and home to critical wildlife habitat and natural resources. The property also makes an important contribution to the region’s public water supply as part of the Lamprey River, a source of water for the Town of Durham and University of New Hampshire.
“LCHIP is delighted to assist with the permanent protection of the Clarke Farm,” said Dijit Taylor, Executive Director of New Hampshire’s Land & Community Heritage Investment Program, known as LCHIP. “Jack and Linda Clarke have worked hard for more than three decades to improve the already impressive natural features of this land. Their decision to conserve the farm ensures that the land will be available for local food production for as long as people need food.”
Funding to protect Clarke Farm came from the US Department of Agriculture, LCHIP, as well as the Towns of Epping and Newmarket’s Conservation Commissions.
About SELT
SELT is a nonprofit land trust with a mission to protect and sustain the significant lands in our communities for clean water, fresh food, outdoor recreation, healthy forests, and wildlife. Since 1980, the Southeast Land Trust has worked in 52 communities of southeastern New Hampshire to conserve more than 22,000 acres of land through conservation agreements and ownerships. SELT is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. For more information, visit seltnh.org.