The Francis Small Heritage Trust has been the beneficiary of an easement from a conservation-minded landowner.   In December, 2001, David Chipman signed the papers which designated the Trust the holder of a conservation easement on the lion's share of a 140+ acre property in Parsonsfield.   Mr. Chipman and his wife Kathe purchased this land, the so-named Piper-Pomeroy Farm, in 1996 from Wayne and Karen Moulton.

      Mr. Chipman said he was motivated to make this gift because he wanted to make sure most of the land remains undeveloped for wildlife habitat.   A "farmstead parcel" of approximately 33 acres is not included in the easement.   Since the December signing, the entire 140+ acres have been sold to Frank Alleman of New York.   The easement, of course, remains in place despite the change of ownership.

      One of the significant values of this land from the Trust's perspective is that it is contiguous to the 8,600 acre Leavitt Plantation, the result of the Nature Conservancy's purchase of an easement.   Thus it represents one more bead in a "green belt" necklace stretching from the New Hampshire border to Sebago Lake.