Moose Mountains Regional Greenways Celebrates $160,000 LCHIP Grant to Advance the Jane K. Wingate Memorial Forest Conservation Project
January 21, 2026 Farmington, NH — Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) has been awarded a $160,000 LCHIP grant to support the conservation of the Jane K. Wingate Memorial Forest, a 56‑acre property critical to the health of the Berry River watershed, which supplies drinking water to 25,000 Rochester residents.
The project will protect mature forest, wetlands, and high‑value wildlife habitat. This project is a critical piece in further connecting an existing greenway of over 2,200 acres of conserved lands. With vernal pools, riverine wetlands, and diverse forest systems; the property offers rich opportunities for outdoor learning, recreation, and future public access. Conserving this land strengthens the watershed, preserves ecological integrity, and ensures long‑term community benefits.
Jill Eldredge, MMRG Executive Director, reflects, “MMRG is proud to continue to move this important conservation project forward and closer to completion. It will be a wonderful expansion of our recent work to protect drinking water quality through conserving the Berry River shoreline, following up on our Shillaber Conservation Easement last year. MMRG is extremely gratified to have brought about this positive result and to have the opportunity to continue our working relationship with LCHIP”.
LCHIP is a state‑funded program that provides matching grants to help conserve New Hampshire’s most significant natural, cultural, and historic resources. The award to MMRG reflects the Wingate Forest’s ecological importance and its alignment with statewide conservation priorities.
MMRG will continue working with grantors, supporters and partners, including the City of Rochester, to complete the conservation of the Jane K. Wingate Memorial Forest in the coming months.
About the New Hampshire’s Land and Community Heritage Investment Program
The New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) is an independent state authority providing matching grants to New Hampshire’s municipalities and non-profits, helping to preserve the state’s most important natural, cultural, and historic resources and ensure their contribution to the economy, environment, and quality of life in New Hampshire. Since 2000 LCHIP has awarded 615 grants, investing $65 million in 206 NH communities to help conserve 247,000 acres of land and rehabilitate 192 historic structures. Learn more about how LCHIP is helping to preserve and protect New Hampshire’s heritage at LCHIP.org, by following LCHIP_NH on Instagram, or Facebook.