The Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust added its newest property on October 20, 2017 when it closed on the George Clark Woods property in Bradford.  Ausbon Sargent now helps to protect 9 properties in the town of Bradford, encompassing 1,269.17 acres of land.

Gary Clark placed an easement on his 63-acre property in Bradford believing it was the perfect way to pay tribute to his father, George.  In 1958, George Clark purchased the property with the hopes of creating a retirement spot for him and his wife and a wildlife and recreation haven for all to enjoy.  Gary obviously shares his father’s appreciation for this special property as he wrote in a recent article for Ausbon Sargent’s Chatter newsletter, “Every piece of land holds its own wonders and is beautiful in its own right, but not every piece of land offers such diversity as this: streams and vernal pools, lowlands and highlands, wetlands and drylands, a mature mixed forest, all of it bounded and crisscrossed by magnificent stonewalls.”

The Clark property is highly ranked for wildlife habitat in the 2015 NH Wildlife Action Plan and can be managed for forestry and agriculture, boasting highly ranked forestry soils. In addition, it is located near other protected land including Low State Forest, Battles Farm and both of the Blitzer protected properties and it preserves scenic views for people traveling on Rowe Mountain Road.

With the addition of George Clark Woods, Ausbon Sargent now protects 143 properties covering 11,263 acres in its 12-town region.