Legacy of conservation: Lessard family’s gift of 33 acres enriches Hampton’s green spaces

HAMPTON — The Hampton Conservation Commission is excited to announce that 33.72 acres of land have been conserved off Timber Swamp Road in Hampton.

The Olive and Robert "Vic" Wildlife Preserve was donated to the town by the Lessard family, who stewarded the land for many decades. The property consists of forest and wetland habitats and connects two conserved parcels of land, providing access to land that was previously inaccessible.

“The Hampton Conservation Commission is humbled by and grateful for the generosity of such a significant donation,” the commission stated in a press release. “This is an especially exciting acquisition because this area is full of ecologically rich habitat.”

The Olive and Robert "Vic" Lessard Wildlife Preserve lies within the 2021 New Hampshire’s Coastal Watershed Land Conservation Plan. Thirty acres of the parcel is located within a “Connect the Coast” prioritized habitat block, and 20 acres within the NH Fish & Game Wildlife Action Plan of significant habitats in the state. There are 596 feet of Old River running through the property, which is a tributary to the Taylor River.

The commission noted the Aquatic Wildlife Action Plan identified Taylor River as a potential habitat for Special Concern fish species, including the American Eel, Banded Sunfish, Burbot, Redfin Pickerel, and Wild Brook Trout.

The protection of this land, they said, ensures that these habitats will remain undeveloped and left in their natural state in perpetuity.

With the conservation of the Olive and Robert "Vic" Lessard Wildlife Preserve, there is a contiguous block of just under 150 acres of protected land in this area. A short distance away are three other conserved parcels of land, the Batchelder Farm conservation easement, and the newly conserved Kaifer property. There are currently over 2,300 acres of conserved land in Hampton.

“It is the Hampton Conservation Commission’s priority to continue protecting the land and natural resources within the town that provide the area with the diverse, resilient, and healthy ecosystems that we rely on for a healthy community,” the commission stated in a release.

If you’re interested in conserving your land in Hampton, please reach out to Brianna O’Brien, conservation coordinator, at bobrien@hamptonnh.gov or 603-929-5808.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Lessard family’s gift of 33 acres enriches Hampton’s green spaces