NLCC


New London Conservation Commission



Projects



Making the trails more enjoyable for our visitors



Each year the New London Conservation Commission, along with the generous help of local volunteers, works to improve and expand on the many trails in town. Our goal is to provide safe and enjoyable trails that everyone can use and enjoy.



PHILBRICK-CRICENTI BOG WALKWAY



The walkway at the PC Bog has gotten a facelift over the last 4 years.



The bog walkway has been upgraded with new aluminum walkways and wider wooden planking. Signs with detailed information on the wildlife and unique plants found here have been installed at various key spots on the trail.


Contributions to the maintenance and upgrades to our trails are greatfully accepted. Donation checks can be mailed to:

NLCC

c/o Town of New London

375 Main Street

New London, NH 03257



2025





Projects completed in 2025



Philbrick-Cricenti Bog Walkway



During the 2025 season work continued on boardwalk improvements at Philbrick Cricenti Bog. Key activities this year included the addition of interpretive signs, widening of the walkways, and construction of additional handrails. With these latest improvements, the multiyear PC Bog walkway project is now considered complete and moves into maintenance mode going forward.



Great brook TRAIL


In March, Conservation Commission volunteers installed A new kiosk at the Great Brook Trail head


Kidder Cleveland Clough Trail



In June, Conservation Commission volunteers construct a new bridge on the Kidder-Cleveland-Clough Trail.




kidder cleavland clough trail



In September, Conservation Commission volunteers installed new boardwalks on the Kidder-Cleveland-Clough Trail




2024





Projects completed in 2024



Philbrick-Cricenti Bog Walkway



The third phase of the installation of a new walkway at Philbrick-Cricenti Bog began in June, 2024, with the installation of additional anti-slip Aluminum walkway in the Tundra loop. Work still in process is the widening of sections of the wooden walkway where it is more practical than upgrading to Aluminum. As you can tell by the picture the upgrades are making a huge improvement to the experience of visiting the Bog.


We are a long way from having the funding needed to complete the upgrade to the entire trail but we are working on securing donations from many sources. If you would like to help, send us a check, made out to "Town of New London" with a memo notation of "Bog Walkway. Send your donation to:

NLCC

c/o Town of New London

375 Main Street

New London, NH 03257


Photo provided by Mike Gelcius



WEBB FOREST Interpretive TRAIL


In Apri, Conservation Commission volunteers installed three water bars on the Webb Forest Interpretive Trail. These water bars divert water from running down the trail and causing erosion. Pictured are Mark Vernon, Jim Dexter, Bob Hutter and Don Ostler. Paul Catsos also worked on the project.


cocoa's path



In May, Conservation Commission volunteers installed a bridge on Cocoa’s path. Pictured are Mark Vernon, Bob Hutter, Dave Hollinger.. Don Bartlett, Don Ostler and Jim Dexter also worked on the project.




Low plains knotweed mitigation



New London Conservation Commission and the Campus Climate Action Corps at Colby Sawyer College removed and sealed approximately 3,500 square feet of the Japanese knotweed infestation at the Overlook in Esther Currier Wildlife Management Area (Low Plains). Over a three month period in Spring 2024, NLCC and CCAC collected and transported wood chips to the site, hand pulled knotweed stalks, and covered the area in layers of organic matter and black plastic. The knotweed control method used for this project was per guidelines provided by the UNH Cooperative Extension, more information at the following link. https://www.agriculture.nh.gov/publications-forms/documents/japanese-knotweed-bmps.pdf

Knotweed control efforts require multiple seasons of dligent work to be effective, and this project addressed only a portion of the total knotweed infestation at this site. Invasive plant mitigation at Low Plains will remain a project on the NLCC's radar in the coming years



2024





Projects completed in 2024



Lyon Brook Trail



In July, a large group of Conservation Commission volunteers, local and from Hypotherm Corporation replaced an aging wooden bridge with a new aluminum bridge that will last for years.



Lyon brook trail


In July a large group of Conservation Commission volunteers, local and from Hypotherm Corporation added a railing to an existing wooden bridge


American Chestnut Project



On September 14th, eighteen volunteers from the NLCC, TACF (The American Chestnut Foundation), and Elkins Fish & Game Club planted 22 new seedlings at the Shaker Street site, and put in new fencing, mulch and landscaping fabric at Shakers Street and at Clark Lookout. The NLCC now has over 100 American Chestnut trees, saplings and seedlings at three locations in New London.



Great Brook Trail



In October a group of local Conservation Commission volunteers, replaced old support on a wooden bridge




Future Project



Future project.



2023





Projects completed in 2023



Philbrick-Cricenti Bog Walkway



The second phase of the installation of a new walkway at Philbrick-Cricenti Bog was completed in June, 2023. We replacied the current wooden planking with an all-weather, elevated, strong, anti-slip aluminum walkway, and widening sections of the wooden walkway where it is more practical than upgrading to Aluminum. As you can tell by the picture the upgrades are making a huge improvement to the experience of visiting the Bog.


We are a long way from having the funding needed to complete the upgrade to the entire trail but we are working on securing donations from many sources. If you would like to help, send us a check, made out to "Town of New London" with a memo notation of "Bog Walkway. Send your donation to:

NLCC

c/o Town of New London

375 Main Street

New London, NH 03257


Photo provided by Mike Gelcius



PLEASANT LAKE HIGH TRAIL


Trail volunteers repair a bridge on the Pleasant Lake High Trail.



LYON BROOK TRAIL BRIDGE



Volunteers rebuilt the bridge on the Lyon Brook trail. This new bridge provides an easier path for visitors who use the trail. Pictured are Mark Vernon, Jim Dexter and Paul Catsos. Don Bartlett and Brandon Baker also worked on the project.



2022





Projects completed in 2022



Philbrick-Cricenti Bog Walkway



The first phase of the installation of a new walkway at Philbrick-Cricenti Bog was completed on June 10th. We are replacing the current wooden planking with an all-weather, elevated, strong, anti-slip aluminum walkway. As you can tell by the picture this upgrade will make a huge improvement to the experience of visiting the Bog.


We are a long way from having the funding needed to replace the entire trail but we are working on securing donations from many sources. If you would like to help, send us a check, made out to "Town of New London" with a memo notation of "Bog Walkway. Send your donation to:

NLCC

c/o Town of New London

375 Main Street

New London, NH 03257


Photo provided by Mike Gelcius



Clark Pond Trail Bridge



A new 16' long prefabricated truss bridge, that was designed and built by NLCC, was transported to the Norman Trail at Clark Pond in June. The 3/4 mile transport was made with the assistance of Merrimack County Department of Corrections workers. New London Conservation Commission Trails workers completed the construction on site.


Involved in the construction and installation were NLCC Chair Bob Brown, NLCC Trail Master Mark Vernon, and volunteers Jeff Troxell and Ben Young.


Photo provided by Mark Vernon.



NLCC Library Box at Great Brook



Our second NLCC Library Box has been installed. You'll find it at the entrance to the Great Brook Trail on Lakeshore Drive. Feel free to borrow a book or drop one off for others to read. You'll find our original library box at the Clark Lookout Trail.


Photo provided by Mike Gelcius.



Low Plain maintenance



NLCC members and volunteers were at the Esther Currier Wildlife Maintenance Area at Low Plain to complete several projects. The Davis Path was mowed at the Andover Road and Mountain Road ends, evergreen trees were removed from the area near Beaver Pond to help promote the growth of hardwood trees in that area, and the "Chestnut Loop" extension was started to guide visitors to the American Chestnut Tree planting area. Involved in the work were NLCC members Mike Gelcius and Rob Prohl, NLCC trail worker Don Bartlett, and volunteers Jeff Troxell, Ben Young and Peg Birch.


Also, the New London DPW installed and extended the gravel area on the wet section of Davis Path near the dam.


Photo provided by Mike Gelcius


2022





Projects completed in 2022



Bridges at Great Brook



Volunteers from Hypertherm and the New London Conservation Commission build bridges on the Great Brook Trail. Two new 12-foot bridges were built over a difficult crossing just below the Upper Cascades. The volunteers hauled lumber from the Morgan Hill trail head, did rock work and carpentry. The NLCC thanks Hypertherm and the crew of Mike, Kirk, Dave, Josh and Scott. Don Bartlett and Ben Young were foreman and the result transformed the crossing from slippery boulder hopping to a safe and stable experience.


Photo provided by Mark Vernon



HOSPITAl Community trail



The NLCC announces the re-opening of the Hospital Community Trail after a three-year closure. The Trail connects the roundabout on Newport Road with Parkside Road and the Lyon Brook Trail. The Trail can be accessed behind Hubert's, via the hospital parking lot or on Parkside Road across the street from the Lyon Brook Trail head. It traverses the powerlines, a brief wooded stretch and the margin of the New London Place clearing. The Trail is cleared, marked, mowed and mulched. We hope you get the chance to enjoy it. The Conservation Commission thanks our partners the New London Hospital, Eversource, Hubert's and Continuum.



BRIDGES ON MORGAN HILL TRAIL



The New London Conservation Commission builds bridges on the Morgan Hill Trail. Shown above are trail volunteers Mark Vernon and Ben Young beside a newly constructed bridge.



2021





Projects completed in 2021



Tree planting at low plain



Under the guidance of NLCC Trail master Mark Vernon, the New London Conservation Commission, the Elkins Fish & Game Club, and trail volunteers got together to plant new trees at the Esther Currier Wildlife management Area at Low Plain. The planting was done to attract new wildlife to the area and improve the health of the forested area. Sugar Maple, Silver Maple, White Birch, Red oak and Black Walnut trees were planted at the north-western portion of the property.


Volunteers who working on the project were Mark Vernon, Mike Gelcius, Jim Flanagan, Michael Kennedy, Peter Field, Rick Davies, Jeff Troxell, Diane Lander, Ben Young, David Hunter, and Russell Moore.


Photo provided by Mike Gelcius



WEBB FOREST BRIDGE REPAIR



A major repair was made to the bridge at the Webb Forest trail. The bridge had broken in half and was unusable. Volunteers from the New London Conservation Commission, the Wilmot Conservation Commission and the Chichester Conservation Commission brought supplies out to the site, lifted the bridge back into position, installed new support beams and replaced the other damaged sections of the bridge.


Photo provided by Mark Vernon.


Learn more

BIKE & HIKE



Bike racks are now available for use at the Clark Pond, Lakeshore Drive and Lyon Brook trail heads. Now you can bike to these trails and have a safe place to leave your bike as you go for a hike.


Mark Vernon and Ken Kessler built and installed the racks, which are a great addition to the trails.


Photo provided by Mark Vernon.


Learn more

KIDDER-CLEVELAND-CLOUGH 2.0



The Kidder-Cleveland-Clough Trail has resurfaced from the swamp and is now passable. After several years of submersion, we have rebuilt and repaired bridges and boardwalks. The trail traverses town-owned land and Spring Ledge Farm. Enjoy a walk through a wildlife-rich beaver swamp. And, walk through town via Pleasant St., the old Middle School and Spring Ledge Farm. After development of trails on the newly-acquired Messer Farm property by ASLPT, the Kidder-Cleveland-Clough Trail will connect Pleasant St. to Morgan Hill Road. Enjoy the trail!"


Photo provided by Mark Vernon


Learn more

2020





Projects completed in 2020



PHILBRICK-CRICENTI BOG



Intrepid trail volunteers for the NL Conservation Commission repair boardwalks in the Philbrick-Cricenti Bog on November 3rd. Due to lumber prices, NLCC is using hemlock rather than pressure treated lumber for construction projects.


Shown, left to right, Rick Davies, Gene Tappen, Ben Young, Mark Vernon and Charlie Kelsey.


Photo by Jeff Troxell



LYON BROOK BRIDGE



The Conservation Commission recently constructed a new foot bridge at the southern end of the Lyon Brook Trail. The truss-style bridge was pre-fabricated by Bob Brown and our trail intern, Liam and replaces a rock-hopping crossing of the Brook. The new bridge and the southern end of the Lyon Brook Trail can be accessed off of Brookside Drive or Oxbow Road with parking at both locations. From there, hikers can through hike to Parkside Road, 2.2 miles, and also connect to the Knights Hill Nature Park trail network and Outing Club fields.


Liam Fleming, Bob Brown and Jeff Troxell install new truss bridge on Lyon Brook Trail.


Photo provided by Mark Vernon



COCOA'S PATH WALKWAY



The Conservation Commission and Sunapee Ragged Kearsarge Greenway recently collaborated to construct a walkway across a boulder zone on Cocoa's Path. The 40-foot structure spans a rough section of trail and makes Cocoa's Path easier to traverse. Hikers with mobility challenges may use the Path and Pingree Road to make a one-mile loop with little difficulty. This project was funded by a bequest from the Hollinger family.


Photo provided by Mark Vernon



2019





Projects completed in 2019



SPRING LEDGE LOOP OPEN



The Conservation Commission is pleased to announce the opening of the Spring Ledge Loop trail. This loop extends the Kidder-Cleveland-Clough Trail beyond the Spring Ledge connector to a lovely route along the perimeter of the farm fields and returns via a wooded .35 mile loop. The trail offers views of the fields and traverses some wet and uneven ground with boardwalks. It is marked with signs and orange blazes. The Kidder-Cleveland-Clough trail system now connects to the old middle school, Spring Ledge Farm and Main St with a spur to a beaver meadow and the headwaters of Red Brook. The trail segment to Pleasant St. is temporarily closed until water levels in the beaver meadow are stabilized. We hope you enjoy the trail. Pictured are the segments of the trail.


Photo provided by Mark Vernon



2018





Projects completed in 2018



DURA CROCKETT BRIDGE



The Dura Crockett bridge was becoming a safety concern due to decay and deterioration, so the Conservation Commission scheduled its replacement. Due to the rough and steep terrain leading to the bridge, plans were made for an aluminum truss bridge which would be easier to transport to the site and would last far longer than a wooden bridge. High Country Aluminum Products helped design the bridge, did the fabrication, and delivered the parts to the trail head. A crew of volunteers took the parts to the bridge site, removed the old bridge, then installed the new one. Our thanks go out to Bob Brown, Mark Vernon, Jeff Troxell, Mike Tedeshi, Colby Reardon, Mike Kennedy and Seamus Forest for all their hard work. A special thanks goes to CC Trail Master Mark Vernon for organizing the volunteers.


Photo provided by Bob Brown



PLEASANT STREET EAST



The Conservation Commission is pleased to announce the opening of the Kidder-Cleveland-Clough Trail Extension on the town-owned Pleasant St. East property. The new trail is a .6-mile loop through the 26-acre parcel. The trail head is on Pleasant Street, across from the existing Kidder-Cleveland-Clough Trail. There is no trail head parking at this time. The new trail is the culmination of the acquisition of the parcel by the Town in 2016. The Commission thanks town officials, Ausbon Sargent Land Trust and the people of New London for the wonderful addition to our trail system and to our conserved land.


Photo provided by Mike Gelcius



CLARK LOOKOUT LIBRARY



The Conservation Commission has installed a trail library box next to the kiosk. This is the first library box on the town trails and we hope to add more in the near future. Books stored in the boxes can be borrowed by visitors to the trail, and people are encouraged to bring and leave books that may be of interest to others.


Photo provided by Mike Gelcius



CLARK POND TRAIL



The Conservation Commission is repairing and replacing bridges on the Clark Pond trail. The bridge replacement on Darcy Trail has been completed, thanks to hard work of Mark Vernon, Tom Coverdale, Jeff Troxell and Mike Kennedy. In addition to the bridge upgrades, the trails are now labeled with plant and flower identification markers.


Photo provided by Mark Vernon



2018





Projects completed in 2018 - continued



CLARK LOOKOUT NEW ENTRANCE



The Conservation Commission has created a new entrance to the Clark Lookout trail. It is located on RTE 103A, across from the Park and Ride near Exit 12 on RTE 89. The new entrance will provide better access to the trail and easier parking for visitors. A new gate and signage have been installed at the entrance to the path. The old entrance on Davis Hill Road is now permanently closed.


Photo provided by Mike Gelcius



LOW PLAIN PLANTINGS



More new plants and trees were put into the tree cut area at the Esther Currier Wildlife Management Area at Low Plain. This work, approved by the Conservation Commission, was the Eagle Scout service project of Jonathan Doheny, who, along with other scouts and parents from Troop 71 in New London, planted over 175 trees and plants. The project helps preserve the land and to attract new wildlife to the property.


Photo provided by Michael Doheny



New London Conservation Commission


375 Main Street, New London, NH 03257