2009 Astronomy Night Thursday July 23rd at 8:30 PM Rain/cloud date: Monday July 27th The Francis Small Heritage Trust and Apple Acres Farm invite you to our third annual Astronomy Night guided by Joan Chamberlain of the Astronomical Society of Northern New England. This is a free event. Meet at Apple Acres Farm at 363 Durgintown Road in Hiram.   Please arrive by 8:30 PM so that car headlights will not spoil the night vision of the participants.   From Cornish, take Bridge Street (next to the Library) and follow the signs for Apple Acres Farm. Bring a flashlight.   We will provide red cellophane and rubber bands so that your flashlight can be made "astronomy friendly." Feel free to bring your own telescope or binoculars.

March 30, 2009 Press Release:
Permanent conservation easement placed on Trust lands.
We are pleased to announce that after years of effort, FSHT has recorded a conservation easement on 1,100 acres on Sawyer Mountain in Limerick and Limington.  The easement ensures that the Trust properties are reserved for wildlife habitat and the public's traditional non-intensive recreation such as hiking and hunting.   Snowmobiles are allowed on the existing trail.   The land can never be used for commercial or residential development.

The Green Mountain Conservation Group is the legal holder of the easement.   Having a third party like GMCG hold the easement guarantees that the land will remain protected in perpetuity.   The easement and stewardship funds were made possible by a generous grant from the Sweet Water Trust, other organizations, and individual donors.

The easement provides that the forest ecosystem will return to its natural state over time.   So not only can the community benefit from the land today, but future generations will also be able to continue to enjoy the Sawyer Mountain Highlands.

Currently GMCG is is competing for a $15,000 grant to provide water quality monitoring. You can help them win this grant by voting in the panel at the right.   You can vote once per day, every day until July 9th.   Please help GMCG reach their goal.   For more more information, go to their website at www.gmcg.org.

April 26, 2007 Press Release:
Maine State Legislature and Governor Baldacci honor two Trust Directors

The Sawyer Mountain Highlands as viewed from Coffin Hill Road

      The Francis Small Heritage Trust is a private, not-for-profit conservation land trust that was founded in 1990.   We obtain land and easements for public access and traditional uses such as hiking, hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiles on existing trails, and horseback riding.   As of 2005, the Trust owns over 1400 acres and holds easements on an additional 130 acres, all in Northern York County, Maine.

      The Trust also sponsors educational programs where school groups can explore beaver dams, old foundations, natural areas, and hiking trails.

      The Trust is staffed entirely by volunteers and is funded by memberships, contributions, and grants.   There are no program fees to use Trust lands.

      Please use the tabs to the left to explore the Trust lands and offerings.