SPNHF, Couple Protect 116 Acres In Allenstown

By InDepth NH

ALLENSTOWN, NH – Laura Bonk and Phil Trowbridge bought 116 acres in Allenstown in 1997. At the time, they were starting out as young scientists and outdoor enthusiasts, and they knew that this undeveloped land on the northern boundary of Bear Brook State Park was a special spot. Now, some 25 years later, the couple has placed a conservation easement on the land.

The Bonk-Trowbridge family generously donated the conservation easement and will retain ownership of the land. The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests raised funds for the stewardship and project costs of placing an easement on the land. In recognition of its watershed significance, the project was awarded a grant of $8,000 by the Merrimack Conservation Partnership, and the balance of funding was provided through generous donations from individuals across the state.

“Ever since we bought the land, we have been planning to conserve it,” states Bonk. “We have reached a stage in life where you need to focus on doing important things. This donation is one of those things,” adds Trowbridge.

The conservation easement permanently protects 116 acres in the Merrimack River Watershed. Over the past decade, conservation, advocacy, and educational groups have joined together as part of the MerrimackConservation Partnership to conserve lands that are important to protecting water quality in the <https://merrimackconservationpartnership.org/>Merrimack River watershed. The Derevya Farms property is an important link in a large block of conserved lands and includes important natural resources.

The Derevya Farms land includes frontage along Little Bear Brook, which drains into Bear Brook and the Suncook River, all tributaries in the Merrimack Watershed. As a result, it ranks as a high priority for conservation in the Merrimack River Watershed Conservation Plan, which targets the protection of high-quality forested watershed lands to protect water quality throughout the region.

“More than 700,000 people in Massachusetts and New Hampshire rely on the Merrimack River as the source of their drinking water and its groundwater feeds private wells throughout, so the health of the watershed has a direct impact on the quality of the water we drink,” states Jack Savage, president of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. “We cannot thank Laura and Phil enough for this generous donation and their commitment to land conservation.”

In addition to the property’s importance in the watershed, it provides habitat for moose, deer, bobcat, migratory birds, and an abundance of other wildlife. It has also been open for recreation to neighbors and locals who enjoy walking the trails that the Bonk-Trowbridge family maintains on the property.

“We always knew that Derevya Farms would be a travel corridor for wildlife in Bear Brook State Park. It has also become a travel corridor for people. We maintain trails and a Class VI Road through the property, and use of these trails has been increasing. My neighbors know the woods and trails as well as I do. It’s gratifying to see that others use and care for the land. I am proud to be conserving this open space for everyone to enjoy,” explains Trowbridge.

“For me,” Bonk adds, “my favorite thing about the land are the trilliums. I love seeing the wildflowers.”

ABOUT THE FOREST SOCIETY

The Forest Society is a non-profit land trust and forestry organization established in 1901. The Forest Society owns 191 forest reservations constituting nearly 60,000 acres that provide wildlife habitat, walking trails, and watershed protection in 105 New Hampshire communities. In partnership with private landowners, the Forest Society protects an additional 135,000 acres by holding more than 750 conservation easements statewide.

This story was originally published by InDepth NH.