Phippsburg Land Trust Mission

The Phippsburg Land Trust preserves, protects and stewards special wild and natural places in Phippsburg for the benefit and education of our children, grandchildren and future generations.

The properties of Phippsburg Land Trust are open to all, year round, free of admission from dawn to dusk.

Visiting PLT properties, things to consider.

Outdoor spaces are a wonderful piece of free medicine at all times, but especially now, and as such PLT preserves will remain open to the public from dawn to dusk; overnight parking is prohibited at all of our preserves.

1. Our preserves tend to have small parking lots, which means if the lot is full, there may be no other safe parking area.  To maintain safety for our visitors and those driving the roads, including first responders, we ask that if the parking area for the preserve you were planning to visit is full, consider a visit to a different preserve for this trip.
2. Many of our preserves are surrounded by private properties.  Please be aware of this, and do not stray onto adjacent properties. Please keep dogs under control at all times, and prevent them from straying onto private property as well.
3. We adhere to CARRY IN – CARRY OUT principals; please help to keep our trails clear of human debris (and pet deposits) so all walkers can enjoy the outdoors at our preserves.
4. Trails are often narrow. If other walkers are approaching to pass from the opposite direction or overtaking your pace, please step off the trail to allow for safe physical distancing even outside.
5. As much as we might wish to, we cannot control the ticks, mosquitos, or blackflies on our preserves. So come prepared and exercise good tick control measures. 
6. The Phippsburg Land Trust relies on volunteers to monitor and maintain our preserves. Please let us know if there is a problem with a trail (like a fallen tree, for example) so we can keep our trails accessible! Call 443-5993 or email stewardship@phippsburglandtrust.org

Please enjoy our preserves, and stay safe and healthy!

Dogs are Welcome on Land Trust Property

We get this question periodically, so to be clear about our policy – dogs are allowed on lands owned by the Phippsburg Land Trust.  In accordance with Maine state statutes, and Phippsburg ordinances, all dogs must be under the control of their owners at all times.  Many of our properties are adjacent to private property, and as well behaved our dogs may be off leash in our own yard; new sights and sounds may elicit a different response at a preserve.  As such while in our parking lots, please keep your dog leashed.  As with anything else, please use common sense: do not allow your dog to threaten or interfere with wildlife, and remember that dog owners share our preserves with other walkers, who may feel threatened by your dog’s enthusiasm, no matter how well-intentioned. Please keep your dog nearby, so that you are able to ensure others (wildlife, humans, or other pets) are not harmed. We also expect that you “carry out” any waste, especially when near a water body, including bogs, streams or vernal pools. Finally, be sure your pet wears orange during hunting seasons.

Be aware that for lands where the Land Trust holds an easement, landowner policies may differ.  Some easements, such as Mary’s Woods, involve passing through a landowner’s yard and near their home. To preserve the privilege of bringing your pet to these lands, be sure your dog is a well-behaved guest.

Help us! Volunteer!

We run Stewardship Workdays and Invasive Removal volunteer days throughout the fall, spring and summer. We will of course make every attempt to accommodate any safety needs required. No experience is needed.  If you have other talents you’d like to voluteer to our board please contact us!  The Land Trust is a volunteer organization. We rely on the volunteer help of interested members of our community like yourself! If you are willing to help please email us at volunteer@phippsburglandtrust.org.  Check out our Volunteer page for more details, and to see our scheduled events!

Beware of ticks when hiking our preserves!

So some basic preventative measures will help:

 Stay on the trails – Ticks are more likely to be found in the leaf layers and in thick undergrowth, less likely on the trail itself.

 Tuck pant-legs into socks so that ticks can’t get to you, and wear light colors so it is easy to find and dispose of them.  Your winter skiing gaiters can also do double duty as tick guards.

 If you have dedicated hiking shoes/pants etc. treat them with Pemetherin and wear them when hiking — Pemetherin spray can be found locally, and clothing with the Pemetherin already in it is available commercially from several outdoor retail providers.  For your skin, Deet has been found to repel Ticks very reliably, Picaridin effectiveness has not been fully established, but does repel other insects well.

 Check yourself/loved ones/pets carefully at the end of your hike… and don’t forget that the ticks could be in the backyard as well.

 Know your ticks – see this link – the Black Legged or Deer Tick is the one that is the biggest problem- and also, if you do find yourself with an attached Tick, that does not mean you are going to be infected with Lyme. You have (according to recent studies from Connecticut) up to 72 hours before an infection can be passed from the Tick to you. Of course if in doubt, consult your doctor.