Franklin-McElheny Preserve, Rollinsford

Franklin-McElheny Preserve, Rollinsford

Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire Rollinsford, New Hampshire 03869

Official Website

About this Location

The Franklin-McElheny Preserve was born from the generosity of the Franklin and McElheny families. In 1993, Walter and Mabel Franklin donated the original 46 acres to the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire.

They wanted to sustain their land as open space for wildlife habitat and they recognized the need for forest management, such as cutting trees for trails, creating wildlife habitats, and removing dead, deformed, or dying trees to reduce fire, disease, and risks for public use. Further, the Franklins required that such management activities be planned and guided by a plan prepared by a forester and wildlife biologist.

The Franklin’s neighbors, Victor and Ruth McElheny, continued the legacy on their abutting property by working with independent consulting forester Charles Moreno to manage their land. Moreno prepared management plans and oversaw a timber harvest on the McElheny’s property in the mid-1990s.

In 2017, the McElhenys gifted their 26 acres to SELT. Moreno continues to work with us for the care of the expanded Franklin-McElheny Preserve and will be overseeing the planned work in 2018.

Franklin-McElheny Preserve is managed by the Southeast Land Trust.

Notable Trails

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike at Franklin-McElheny Preserve.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Official Website

Last updated November 5, 2023