Brunswick – Freeport Conservation Corridor

The broad corridor along Brunswick’s Pleasant Hill Road is important regionally for its large blocks of unfragmented forest and prime farmland. Our focus area includes much of the Bunganuc Stream watershed and many active and historic farms including Crystal Spring Farm, Granite Farm, Larrabee Farm, Milkweed Farm, and others.

Two notable ecological features of this focus area are a rare Sandplain Grassland and exceptionally productive soils. Encircled by Pleasant Hill, Maquoit, and Woodside Roads are over one hundred acres of Little Bluestem-Lowbush Blueberry Sandplain Grassland. Fewer than 20 occurrences of this community type remain intact in Maine.  It is one of Maine’s rarest and most threatened natural community types because its well-drained soils make it optimal for many human uses.

Much of the farmland soil in this focus area is considered the best farming soil in Maine. In addition, much of this land is open fields – some already in active agriculture – making it a valuable resource for reestablishing working farms in the region.

This area’s assets include hiking trails (Crystal Spring Farm, owned by the Land Trust, has over 5 miles of all-season recreational trails), cold water streams, and significant aquifer, historic and scenic features.

Brunswick – Freeport Conservation Corridor Properties:

Click the image below to learn more about each property in this conservation focus area.

Bunganuc Woods

Bunganuc Woods straddles Bunganuc Stream, which drains to Maquoit Bay, an area of statewide ecological significance.

Crystal Spring Farm

Crystal Spring Farm reflects many important parts of the Land Trust’s mission including pursuing conservation while also promoting local agriculture and supporting community needs in diverse ways.

Larrabee Farm

Larrabee Farm includes former blueberry fields and a stream-cut ravine set in mixed forest. .

Mountfort Farm

The Mountfort Farm includes historic buildings, farmland, fields, a wooded area, and wetland habitat for wildlife.

Morse Farm

Morse Farm is part of an unfragmented forest block, hosts Mill Stream, and is valuable for a diversity of wildlife.

Brunswick-Freeport Conservation Corridor Resources at a Glance:

Land-based Recreation

  • Trails
  • Hunting

Water-based Recreation

  • Fishing
  • Clamming
  • Swimming
  • Boating

Agricultural Lands

  • Open fields, prime soils, active farms

Forestry

Rare Natural Communities

  • Little Bluestem-Lowbush Blueberry Sandplain Grassland

Significant Wildlife Habitat

  • Deer Wintering Areas
  • Shorebird Feeding and Roosting Habitat
  • Significant Vernal Pools

Rare Animal Species

  • Saltmarsh Sparrow

Rare Plant Species

  • Clothed Sedge
  • Dryland Sedge

Notable Landscape Features

  • Grassland Habitat
  • Cold Water Fisheries: Eastern Brook Trout
  • Significant Opportunities for Increasing Local Agriculture