Major Activites

Conserving Harpswell's Heritage
The primary activity of the Trust is conserving—in perpetuity—the open space, wildlife habitat, scenic vistas, historic buildings, and other special places which help to define Harpswell's natural and cultural heritage and character. We do this through acquisition, by gift or purchase, of preserves and of conservation easements. Preserves are lands the Trust owns. Conservation easements are rights the Trust holds on privately owned lands to protect the natural values of those lands. We also accept easements to preserve the settings and appearance of Harpswell's historic buildings. Through trail systems and other means on preserves and on some easements, the Trust provides public access to Harpswell's natural beauty and shoreline vistas.

Stewardship
Essential to conserving Harpswell's heritage is stewardship. When it acquires a preserve or an easement, the Trust assumes stewardship obligations in perpetuity. The Trust must manage its preserves, and monitor and enforce its easements, to ensure that the purposes of each acquisition are upheld. Trails and fixtures such as benches, buildings, bridges and kiosks must be maintained. Fields must be mowed. Each easement must be monitored annually to ensure that its terms are being respected. Encroachments and other violations of an easement must be resolved.

Community Programs
As part of its education mission, the Trust sponsors various events and programs designed to connect Harpswell residents to their natural and cultural heritage. Walks and/or talks on Harpswell's eagles, geology and tree care are examples of HHLT events. The Trust runs a Nature Day Camp for children ages 7-11 for one week each summer. In 2006, through the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Trust initiated a Community Gardens program intended to help maintain Harpswell's connection to its agricultural heritage.

Communications
Since 1989 the Trust has published two newsletters per year—spring and fall. The spring newsletter goes just to members, while the fall newsletter is sent to every Harpswell household and non-resident taxpayer. The Trust also issues press releases about Trust activities, mails notices of upcoming events to members, and prepares information for those interested in preserving their land or building.

Cooperation
The Trust cooperates with other organizations and entities when their activities are consistent with the Trust's mission. Trustees participate in the Town of Harpswell's Comprehensive and Open Space Planning efforts. The Trust is a member of the Maine Land Trust Network and the Sagadahoc Region Rural Resource Initiative. The Trust assisted the Campaign to Keep Holbrook's Working in order to preserve an essential element of Cundy's Harbor's working waterfront.

Membership and Fundraising
The Trust relies on its members' Annual Membership contributions to meet about 95% of its operations budget. Membership recruitment and support is essential if the Trust is to fulfill its mission to protect Harpswell's special places in perpetuity. In addition, the Trust, from time to time, undertakes capital campaigns to meet particular needs. The Special Places for Harpswell Campaign which resulted in the acquisition of the Skolfield Shores Preserve and Johnson Field at Mackerel Cove is one such example. The Trust also hopes to build up its restricted funds to assure its long term ability to conserve Harpswell's heritage.