WOODSTOCK — Inspired by the unanimous town meeting vote this spring and leadership from the Woodstock Conservation Commission, Town Manager Vern Maxfield signed an agreement on October 8 for the Town to purchase the 634-acre Buck’s Ledge property from Bayroot LLC to establish a Community Forest.

Buck’s Ledge is the iconic rock outcropping overlooking North Pond and seen by thousands of people driving on Rte. 26 every day. There is a network of 6 miles of public hiking trails, including new connections to the Woodstock Elementary school and Moody Mountain. The eventual Buck’s Ledge Community Forest will support multiple uses such as snowmobiling and hunting, as well as bird watching and hiking. A local planning committee will work with the community to determine the future uses of the property and stewardship and maintenance needs. The first meeting will be on Wednesday, October 27, at 5 p.m. at the Woodstock Town Office, and all are welcome to participate.

Community forest projects often access a combination of federal, state, local, and private funding sources to support acquisition costs.  The Woodstock Conservation Commission will apply for a series of grants, including the US Forest Service’s Community Forest and Open Space Program and the State’s Land for Maine’s Future Program for much of the purchase cost. The balance will come from the Town of Woodstock’s dedicated land conservation fund and critical support of individuals and businesses as part of a local fundraising effort. The goal is to raise funds to purchase the property by the second half of 2022.

Project partners Northern Forest Center, Mahoosuc Land Trust (MLT), and the Forest Society of Maine are working with the Town to handle the real estate transaction, fundraising, and long-term stewardship planning. The Town of Woodstock will own the property, with a conservation easement likely to be held by MLT.

To donate, go to www.mahoosuc.org/donate or send a check with Buck’s Ledge in the memo line made out to Mahoosuc Land Trust, PO Box 981, Bethel, ME 04217, or the Town of Woodstock, PO Box 317, Bryant Pond, Me 04219