Bob and Debbie Leary worked with conservation organizations to place their forests and fields under permanent conservation. 63 acres were originally conserved by an MMRG easement - the entire 140-acre was generously donated by the Leary's to MMRG's ownership in 2024! The conservation easement for the property is now held by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (NH Forest Society).

Once part of a working dairy farm, the Leary’s maintained the agricultural value of their land through active management (hay production and maple sugaring) and soil improvement. MMRG will continue this tradition of active land management.  The conserved area provides public access on 2.1 miles of well-groomed trails and protects prime agricultural soils and valuable watershed. These woodlands also support roaming fisher, bobcat, and moose. The fields provide important grassland habitat for northern harriers to hunt and for breeding bobolinks, as well as milkweed supporting monarch butterfly habitat and migration.

Links to More Information:

“Snowshoe and Sugaring Walk at Leary Field & Forest”

“Moonlight Walkers Watched Full Moon Rise over Leary Field & Forest”

“Families played in a stream and learned about nature”

Original Conservation Announcement

Leary Farm & Forest “Sites of Interest”

Property Map