It’s clear from talking with Ron Kennard that he has an encyclopedic memory and a drive to keep his family history alive. His family first arrived at Strawberry Banke in the 1660s and has been living in southeastern New Hampshire and southern Maine ever since. There are Kennard roads, a Kennard Hill, and now – thanks to his donation – the Langley & Kennard Forest.

For years, Ron has been working to find the right opportunity to conserve his land. In  2016, he generously agreed to donate his 40 acres to SELT, subject to a Wetlands Reserve Easement held by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This land, tucked quietly behind the Lee Traffic Circle, has long been a target for residential and commercial development. Subdivisions and strip malls are the last things Ron and his family want to see happen to this special place.

According to Ron, “I have no interest in making a profit for the sale of this land. In fact, I would be insulted if it were developed.” At the end of the day, Ron simply wants to know that his land will continue to be open for people and wildlife to enjoy peacefully, and that’s one of the reasons he was driven to conserve his land with SELT.

Inside a boundary of historic stone walls, these 40 acres of old fields, forest, and wetlands along the Oyster River pack a multitude of benefits. Much of this land has been identified by NH Fish and Game as the highest ranked habitat in the state, providing critical resources for a diversity of wildlife and aquatic species. Ron – in consultation with his youngest sister, June – concluded these treasures are best left in the care of SELT, an organization dedicated to conserving land for people and nature. Similar to other SELT-owned reservations, the Langley & Kennard Forest will offer public access along a loop trail accessed from Stepping Stone Road.

Ron is deeply connected to his family history, and this land plays a central role in that sense of place. He continues to live in the original Langley homestead, built in the early 1700’s, and purchased by his father in 1940, who was just the second owner outside of the Langley family.

The Langley cemetery still sits on high ground behind the barn, a quiet reminder of generations
past. Upon deeper investigations into his own family history and land, Ron is even more inclined to conserve this property for future generations. Reflecting on this, he said, “I want to conserve the land in the memory of my father, William E. Kennard, and the Langley Family.”

The Town of Lee has changed significantly in Ron’s 70 years. In 1948, when Ron was born, Lee had a population of about 500 people. Since his birth, Lee – still one of the smallest towns on the Seacoast by acreage – has multiplied to nearly 5,000 people. Though the population of Lee has grown, Ron still feels there is strong support in his community to conserve its natural landscapes.

While an earlier attempt to protect the land with the Town failed, the initial vote showed more than 400 residents in support – almost double those against. With the property under SELT’s care, he hopes that the local community will continue to enjoy the property as much as he does.

With spring approaching, Ron continues to make his plans for the future. Fortunately, some of these considerations have eased knowing SELT will take good care of his family’s land. He didn’t want to leave it to chance saying, “Got to do it while you’re still able.”

Ron’s years of commitment and stewardship have left an indelible mark on the land, and his generosity will be remembered and enjoyed by generations to come at the Langley & Kennard Forest.