Ten acres was recently added to the Warren Woods Preserve in Scarborough. Courtesy photo
Warren Woods Preserve just increased by over 10 acres. On Sept. 26, the Scarborough Land Trust (SLT) closed on a property off Finch Way on the east side of one of SLT’s most popular preserves. This brings the total size of Warren Woods Preserve to over 313 acres.
The parcel was sold to SLT by the Estate of Herb and Wanda Nelsen. Herb and Wanda had discussed conserving their land with SLT for the past four years. Sadly, Wanda passed away in December of 2022, and Herb in February of this year. Their son Peter, representing the estate, continued the legacy his parents put in motion. Funding for the acquisition came from the Town of Scarborough Land Bond, the Davis Conservation Foundation, and a generous donation from an anonymous donor. SLT Executive Director Andrew Mackie said, “We are so grateful to all the funders of this project. This is one more major win for the residents of Scarborough in creating a sustainable and livable community for generations to come.”
The acquisition protects part of the Scottow Bog- a pitch pine bog community. This natural community type is identified as an Exemplary Natural Community by the Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP) and has a State of Maine Rarity Rank of “S2” defined as Imperiled in Maine – at high risk of extirpation due to restricted range, few populations or occurrences, steep declines, severe threats, or other factors. The wetland complex also forms the headwaters of Mill Brook which flows into the Scarborough Marsh Wildlife Management Area. Mill Brook is a threatened brook as defined by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection based on water quality. Protecting this parcel is therefore of statewide importance.
The property also contributes to the conservation of priority habitat for waterfowl, wetland-associated migratory birds, species of greatest conservation need, and federal and state listed and proposed threatened and endangered species. In addition, it directly addresses four national and statewide conservation plans, making it a valuable property to protect for the benefit of wildlife, water resources, and the residents of Maine.
Additionally, this purchase will help further the town in meeting two important goals. The first, as set forth in the Comprehensive Plan, strives that “significant natural resources, agricultural land, and open space should be protected, and an interconnected network of ‘public’ open space be developed where feasible.” The second is the town’s 30×30 goal to protect 30% of land in the town by the year 2030. Advancing these goals has become more important now than ever before, as development pressures in Scarborough continue to grow.
SLT will steward the property and provide access to the public as part of Warren Woods Preserve. Trail access for Warren Woods is currently located off Payne Road. Trails are open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. In addition, Warren Woods Preserve permits hunting and fishing. For more details and permission, go to https://scarboroughlandtrust.org/hunting-on-scarborough-land-trust-properties/.
For more information about the Scarborough Land Trust and how to become a supporter, visit www.scarboroughlandtrust.org email us at info@scarboroughlandtrust.org, or call (207) 289-1199.
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