An extraordinary conservation opportunity is before us, and with your help we can ensure 25 more acres are protected forever.
Scarborough Land Trust (SLT) has the opportunity to purchase and permanently conserve 25 acres of ecologically rich, undeveloped land adjacent to Pleasant Hill Preserve. Protecting this property would expand the Preserve from 186 to 211 acres, further strengthening a connected conservation corridor of more than 500 acres, including the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.
This corridor matters. Large, contiguous natural areas are essential for wildlife movement, climate resilience, and long-term ecosystem health, especially in a rapidly developing coastal community like Scarborough.
Pleasant Hill Preserve, known previously as the Benjamin Farm, was protected in 2014. In 2024, SLT successfully conserved an additional 25 acres, expanding the Preserve and safeguarding more habitat. Now, we have a chance to build on that momentum by protecting one of the last remaining undeveloped parcels along Spurwink Road.
This property includes mature forests, wetlands, and four vernal pools that are critical breeding habitat for amphibians and other wildlife. Its wetlands and stream are part of a 53-acre wetland complex that forms the headwaters of the Spurwink River, which flows into Spurwink Marsh, one of southern Maine’s most significant coastal ecosystems.
The land also sits at the heart of multiple conservation priority areas, including:
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- Four U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service priority zones
- Three Atlantic Coast Bird Conservation focus areas
- A Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Focus Area of Statewide Ecological Significance
Protecting this property safeguards biodiversity today, while strengthening the region’s ability to adapt to climate change in the decades ahead.
The additional acreage will allow for thoughtfully designed trail connections, creating longer walking loops and improving access across the landscape. These trails will welcome families out for an afternoon walk, neighbors walking their dogs, trail runners seeking quiet miles, and anyone looking for a peaceful place to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with nature.
Research continues to show what many of us know from personal experience: time spent in nature supports physical health, reduces stress, and strengthens mental well-being. By expanding Pleasant Hill Preserve, we are protecting not only wildlife habitat, but also a place of restoration, belonging, and connection for the community.
“Safeguarding this property—one of the last undeveloped parcels adjacent to Pleasant Hill Preserve—is essential to the long-term vitality of the Preserve and Spurwink Marsh,” said Andrew Mackie, Executive Director of Scarborough Land Trust. “It will create additional space for wildlife, enhance climate resilience, and allow us to expand the trail network so more people can experience this special place.”
With your support, we can seize this moment to expand Pleasant Hill Preserve, protect critical wildlife habitat, and ensure these forests, wetlands, and trails remain open and wild for generations to come.
Please consider making a gift today to help secure this remarkable property. Your generosity will protect land, support community well-being, and leave a legacy in Scarborough.
