Birch Ridge Community Forest

For more than a decade, critical recreation land and wildlife habitat in New Durham has slipped through the fingers of many neighbors and local outdoor enthusiasts who wished to protect the land from development. Now, through partnership efforts of the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire (SELT), the Merrymeeting Lake Association (MMLA), and Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG), these 2,000 acres are conserved forever as Birch Ridge Community Forest (June 28, 2019).

As a community forest, Birch Ridge promotes conservation, community, and economic development through SELT’s ownership and management of land for the benefit of the community. The conservation easement is held by Moose Mountains Regional Greenways with the Town of New Durham and NH Department of Environmental Services holding a right of enforcement.

Once proposed for a 220-unit subdivision, Birch Ridge was a priority for the community to protect for more than a decade. Past efforts fell short of acquiring and conserving this treasured land. The previous owners aggressively cut most marketable timber from the property, which was closely monitored by the NH Division of Forests & Lands to ensure it met state regulations. Visits to the property after the cut show strong regeneration of oak, which is a good sign of recovery.

Explore Birch Ridge!

Birch Ridge offers recreational opportunities for all to enjoy! Thirteen miles of trails offer great access for hikers, cross-country skiers, and birders with wonderful views of the Lake and all the way to Mt. Washington. Snowmobilers know Birch Ridge well, as it includes Corridor 22, the main east-west snowmobile corridor south of Lake Winnipesaukee that connects Maine to central New Hampshire.

Stay tuned to this page for further updates as SELT's land management plan is implemented.

Click here to download the current map for Birch Ridge trails (PDF)

Trailheads

Rattlesnake Trail
Rattlesnake Trailhead On Merrymeeting Road located north of the intersection of Merrymeeting Road and Brackett Road in New Durham.

Birch Ridge Loop Trail
Birch Road Trailhead Located at the top off the hill toward the end of the Class VI portion of Birch Hill Road.

Natural Resources

Water Quality
Nearly 1,300 acres of Birch Ridge drain to Merrymeeting Lake and Merrymeeting River, helping protect the Lake’s excellent water quality that is the key to the enjoyment of residents and visitors. The Land Conservation Plan for NH’s Coastal Watershed, a regional plan developed to identify the most important lands for water quality and wildlife habitat, identified the entire Birch Ridge property as a conservation focus area, confirming the importance of Birch Ridge from a regional and statewide perspective. Birch Ridge lies within the June 2017 Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) Conservation Action Plan’s highest Conservation Focus Area, which places emphasis on the region’s lake watersheds.

Wildlife Habitat
Birch Ridge is a haven for wildlife with its diverse features from wetlands to ridge tops. In fact, 99% of the Birch Ridge property is a priority for conservation under the NH Wildlife Action Plan. Common and wide-ranging species like moose, bear, deer, and bobcat thrive on the property. Smaller forest dwellers like salamanders and rare turtles utilize the property’s vernal pools, many streams, a 25-acre beaver pond, and Coldrain Pond. Birch Ridge also lies within the MMRG Priority 1 Greenway Concept Plan with a focus on protecting connecting corridors for wildlife movement.

The property’s predominantly oak and hickory forest provides food sources for deer, ruffed grouse, turkey and snowshoe hare. Birch Ridge's conservation also protects the remaining shoreline of Coldrain Pond, a popular fly fishing-only pond that is stocked annually with eastern brook trout and also hosts rainbow and brown trout

Birch Ridge
Management Committee

Birch Ridge News

Download the Birch Ridge Trail Map

Click here to download (PDF)

Funding Partners

The protection of Birch Ridge Community Forest was made possible by generous donations from New Durham community members, an early grant of $500,000 from the US Forest Service Community Forest and Open Space Program, a $350,000 grant from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), the Town of New Durham, and New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Aquatic Resources Mitigation Program.

Birch Ridge Partners

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways

Merrymeeting Lake Association

Land Conservation Resources

The booklet, Conserving Your Land: Options for New Hampshire Landowners, is a concise and clear guide to possible conservation outcomes for your land. You can request a free copy from SELT, read the booklet online, or download a copy.

Want to Learn More?

If you are considering the conservation of your land, we recommend contacting us to set up a confidential meeting. We will be more than happy to meet with you to discuss your goals, walk your property, and answer your questions. Please contact us.

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