Land Trust Opens Skolfield Shores Preserve to Public

HARPSWELL: On Saturday September 17, 2005, despite a steady rain, over 30 Harpswell residents attended the official opening of the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust’s new Skolfield Shores Preserve and trail system.

Gathered around the information kiosk fabricated by former HHLT Trustee George Patterson, the audience heard opening remarks by HHLT President Keith Brown who retold the
history of the Preserve’s protection culminating in its purchase in 2002.  HHLT Executive Director Spike Haible and former Trustee Rebecca Stanley each spoke in more detail about the fundraising effort and thanked the many donors, big and small (including the Land for Maine’s Future Program), but most importantly they each stressed the value of protecting open and scenic spaces in Harpswell, including providing much needed public access to the woods and shore.  Harpswell selectman Sam Alexander, whose family counts itself among the earliest of Harpswell’s settlers, completed (albeit minus his hat and galoshes) the opening speeches with moving words about the importance of protecting the old and historic remnants of Harpswell’s landscape and preserving the scenic gateway to the town along Rt. 123.  A ribbon cutting was accomplished with all four speakers manning the scissors.  The tri-colored ribbon fell away effortlessly to warm applause from the audience which eagerly awaited its moment to hike the new trails and test the engineering efforts of the land trust trail crew and the Maine Conservation Corps.

A guided tour of the 1.25 mile trail system followed the ribbon cutting.  The hikers were treated to the wonderful variety of scenes that the Skolfield Shores Preserve offers—from quiet and stately hemlock woods, glimpses of the water from the high shore along Middle Bay, the engineering marvel of a 52-foot rustic bridge, ecologically important salt marsh, beech trees beginning to show their fall color, brilliantly colored fungi, and the edges of the Skolfield hayfields. 

The trail system is formed into two loops and a spur.  The trailhead leads hikers from the parking area at Rt. 123 over the hill and into the woods.  At the first juncture a spur leads westerly to a small meadow and steps to the shore.  Shellfish harvesters will use this part of the trail to access the mudflats of Middle Bay.  The main trail continues and bifurcates into the Hemlock Loop and leads hikers through an old stand of hemlock.  At the northerly edge of that loop the trail continues briefly across a ravine with a long cedar bridge and then forms a second loop, the Merrucoonegan Loop.  There are two small spurs that end at rustic benches for resting and viewing.  From the Hemlock and Merrucoonegan Loops to the meadow and shore access, the Skolfield Shores Preserve had a little something for everybody.  

Open from dawn to dusk, the Skolfield Shores Preserve is located in North Harpswell with parking at the entrance to Merrucoonegan (Skolfield) Farm on Rt. 123 near the Harpswell/Brunswick town line.
 
For more information contact the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust at 833-5566.