To the Editor:
Buck’s Ledge is really Buck’s Ledge Community Forest.
I have been thoroughly enjoying Rose Lincoln’s interviews with many of our valuable volunteers in our community. The interview with Bob McQueeney, 7/18/24, is one example of a man who is very generous with his time for so many people. I do want to correct the name of Buck’s Ledge. It is The Buck’s Ledge Community Forest (BCLF.) This is an important difference because this land, that was purchased in 2023, is not just the magnificent ledge. It is also 701 acres of woods with trails which also have beautiful views besides Buck’s Ledge. It was purchased with grants and donations, including from the Bethel Rotary and over 240 people donated! This is a Community Forest of the Town of Woodstock, managed by the Woodstock Conservation Commission. It is open in all seasons, with pets on leashes. Volunteers are welcome to help us maintain the trails. (Trail workdays are Mondays starting at 8 a.m.; please contact the Town office if you want to help.)

A community forest is a forest that is owned and managed by local people, in this case, a town, for the benefit of the entire community. The Mahoosuc Land Trust holds a conservation easement on the property in perpetuity. That means the land will be cared for, balancing the needs of wildlife and recreation. The Woodstock Conservation Commission has a new goal, to make some of the area accessible for people who can’t walk a long distance. (We plan to achieve this through grants and contributions from the public.)

The first step will be to build an accessible road. The Woodstock Road Crew improved the logging road, now called the “Access Road”, for people who cannot walk long distances. Now they can drive up to our Scenic Overlook, which has a spectacular view looking West towards North Pond, Mt. Abram, and all the way to Mt. Washington on a clear day. The second step will be to make it accessible for Woodstock Elementary students. In 2024 we purchased 55 abutting acres, to provide permanent access from the Woodstock Elementary School to Buck’s Ledge Community Forest. The third step is to build a “Trail for All”. This is our biggest project, and we will need everyone’s help. We want to have a trail that is accessible for more people, including seniors, families with young children, and people who use wheelchairs or have other disabilities.

To have it professionally designed and built to disability standards, it costs approximately $150,000. We think it’s worth it. In 2023, students in Melissa Prescott’s Telstar Middle School Community Art class envisioned BCLF to be accessible for all people. You can help us reach our goal. Donations will be gratefully accepted at PO Box 317, Bryant Pond, ME 04219, Memo line: Buck’s. Please also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Co-Chairs Emily Ecker and Jane Chandler of the Buck’s Ledge Access for All Campaign
Woodstock