On October 11, 2022, The Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust finalized a conservation easement on 27  acres of land in Goshen, NH. Owners, Sandy Sonnichsen and Allen Howe donated the easement to the land trust, ensuring that their acreage would be protected from development, forever.

This property borders a section of Babb Brook, which is a tributary of the South Fork of the Sugar River. The easement on the property not only helps to protect this watershed, but also the numerous wildlife; from birds, to mammals, to fish and everything in between, that call it home. Landowners, Sandy and Allen have named the property “Hermit Woods” as a nod to the Hermit Thrush that frequent the area.  They explained: “We sought a conservation easement on our property because we wanted to know that the wildness we love will be protected after we are gone.”

Although predominantly forested, Hermit Woods is open to the public for low-impact recreation, such as hiking and bird watching. We are honored that  these landowners  have entrusted their beautiful and important acreage to the land trust. This is the fourth property that Ausbon Sargent has protected in the town of Goshen. This project was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Quabbin-to-Cardigan Partnership.