The Lang Property Provides Critical Connection with Local Forests
The work of the Town of Atkinson Conservation Commission has resulted in a lot of conservation activity in Town in recent months and an important property was just protected forever. On August 23, the 15-acre Lang property was acquired by the Town and conserved by the Southeast Land Trust of NH (SELT) with significant support from The Conservation Fund. The Lang Property represents a key fulcrum for Atkinson’s conservation goals, as it lies within an unfragmented 650+ acre forest block and abuts the Sawmill Swamp Town Forest and the Sawmill Ridge Cluster Open Space.
“The Lang parcel is the ‘missing jig-saw piece’ in a mosaic of conserved lands,” said Paul Wainwright, Chair of the Atkinson Conservation Commission. “A top priority for Atkinson’s land conservation efforts is to connect existing high-value conserved parcels by either acquiring the abutting land, or enabling a conservation easement on the land, to promote wildlife habitat continuity and passive recreational continuity.”
The mosaic this latest conservation project is a part of is expansive: the Lang parcel slots within an unfragmented 650-acre forest block, and is contiguous with 230 acres of protected land, directly abutting the Sawmill Swamp Town Forest and the Sawmill Ridge Cluster Open Space in Atkinson. With the acquisition and conservation of this land, the Town has secured a critical 15-acre tract to add to the Sawmill Town Forest to support threatened wildlife and protect a dense upland forest buffer surrounding the state-significant Sawmill Swamp.
“The Conservation Fund is thrilled to have played a critical part in protecting this environmental oasis within a growing community,” said Sally Manikian, The Conservation Fund’s representative in New Hampshire. “Our shared accomplishment here will benefit Atkinson’s residents, visitors and local ecosystem for decades to come. And on a personal level, it was hugely fulfilling for me to help protect this land in my hometown. The more projects like this one that we can complete, the better our neighborhoods, our state and our nation will become.”
This land can be enjoyed by the public, as it abuts a larger trail system. Trail users can find parking at the end of Knightland Road in Atkinson to access the trail system; they will be rewarded with an array of New Hampshire scenery, including mature forests and spring vernal pools inhabited by diverse wildlife.
“We were excited to partner with the Town as this project reflects SELT’s mission of saving the critical lands in our region,” said Duane Hyde, Land Conservation Director for SELT. “It is a small, but mighty property, featuring significant natural resource value and fitting in perfectly with the tapestry of existing protected lands. Protecting the Lang property is a conservation home run.”
For previous landowner Deborah Lang, the sale and conservation of her family’s property proved to be a move that was mutually beneficial to all involved. The parcel has been desirable for developers for many years, but the right offer never materialized. After engaging with the Atkinson Conservation Commission, a path towards conservation, with the support of SELT and The Conservation Fund came into focus.
“Conservation is very important to me,” she says. “I’m so happy that we were able to come to a deal that worked for both of us. I think it’s a win-win, and I’m just really happy.”
Special thanks to the partners who made this project happen, including The Conservation Fund, the NH DES Aquatic Resource Mitigation Program (ARM), and the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP).
The Lang Property in Atkinson. Jerry Monkman – EcoPhotography