Category: Events

Upcoming and past community events, guided hikes, and educational programs hosted by the Francis Small Heritage Trust.

Mushroom Foray at Bald Ledge

Mushroom Foray at Bald Ledge

Tadd Stuart

Led by Evan O’Day of Meadowfall Farm and Forage

Details

  • NOTE: Due to the expected rain for August 8th, this event has been postponed until August 22nd.
  • Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
  • Time: 2:00 PM
  • Location: Bald Ledge Preserve (Varney Road Parking Lot)

Join the Francis Small Heritage Trust for an educational Mushroom Foray at our Bald Ledge property! Local expert Evan O’Day from Meadowfall Farm and Forage will lead us through the woods as we identify local mushroom species, learn about fungal ecology, and enjoy a summer afternoon on the trail.

Registration

  • Capacity: Limited to 25 participants.
  • How to Register: Pre-registration is required. Please contact Program Director Sheryl Adams by phone or text at 207-749-2963 to claim your spot.

Directions & Parking

  1. From Route 25, take Colcord Pond Road for 4.9 miles.
  2. Turn left onto Dana Weeks Road.
  3. After 350 feet, turn right onto Kennard Hill Road.
  4. Continue on Kennard Hill Road for approximately 1.5 miles until it turns to dirt, then turn right onto Danforth Lane.
  5. Follow event signage and turn right onto Varney Road.
  6. We will meet in the parking lot a short distance up Varney Road.

Some of the varieties seen in the past at Bald Ledge:

Major Update: The 2026 FSHT Trail Challenge is Officially Live!

Tadd Stuart

The wait is over! All the details, trail maps, and downloadable passports for the 2026 FSHT Trail Challenge are now available.

Starting tomorrow, July 17th, and running through August 31st, we invite you to explore the preserves of southern and western Maine. Whether you are taking on the family-friendly Explorer Challenge or stepping up to the Adventurer Challenge, everything you need to hit the trails and win great local prizes is ready for you.

Head over to our fully updated official challenge page to download your passports and view the exact plaque locations:

👉 Click Here for the 2026 FSHT Trail Challenge!

Grab your passports, find those animal plaques, and happy hiking!

The 2026 FSHT Trail Challenge is Officially Live!

Tadd Stuart

The coordinates are set, the plaques are installed, and it’s time to hit the trails. From today through August 31st, explore our preserves, find the hidden plaques, and complete your passport to win local prizes!


How to Participate:

  1. Get a Passport: Download and print your double-sided passport using the links below, or pick up a physical copy at your local town hall or library.
  2. Find the Plaques: Hike the trails listed on your passport. At the furthest point of each trail (or a designated history landmark), you will find a special raised animal plaque. NOTE: The maps are posted at the trailhead and directions for trail navigation is at the bottom of the trail map.
  3. Make a Rubbing: Bring a pencil or crayon and use your passport page to make a physical rubbing of the animal plaque.
  4. Claim Your Prize: Mail your completed passport to us (P.O. Box 414, Limerick, ME 04048) or bring it to Local Gear in Cornish on Saturday, September 12th between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM to get your prize and enter the $50 gift card raffle!


Choose Your Challenge Tier:

Option A: The Explorer Challenge

Perfect for easy strolls, young children, and relaxed nature viewing. Complete all four to win a kiddie cone card for Route 160 Ice Cream.

Option B: The Adventurer Challenge

Designed for hikers looking for steeper climbs, loops, and a bit more of a workout. Complete all four to win a treat card for Sugar N Spice Bakery.

Thank You to Our Community Sponsors!

A massive shout-out to Local Gear, Route 160 Ice Cream, and Sugar N Spice Bakery for supporting outdoor recreation and land conservation in our towns!

Questions? Reach out to us at mail@fsht.org. Happy hiking!

Hit the Trails for “The Moon Over Malibu Maine” Story Walk

Hit the Trails for “The Moon Over Malibu Maine” Story Walk

Tadd Stuart

Get ready to combine a love of reading with a love for the outdoors! We are thrilled to announce that from June 13 to July 12, the Francis Small Heritage Trust will be hosting a summer Story Walk at the Jagolinzer Preserve.

This season, our featured book is “The Moon Over Malibu Maine,” a wonderful story written by Tonya Shevenell with beautiful illustrations by Laura Winslow. As an all-volunteer organization based right here in Limington, we are always looking for ways to foster community connections and make our local natural spaces engaging for all ages.

What is a Story Walk? If you haven’t participated in one before, a Story Walk takes the pages of a children’s book and spaces them out along a walking path. As you hike through the Jagolinzer Preserve—navigating the Loop Trail, the Bypass, and the River Trail alongside the scenic Saco River and the Pease Brook—you’ll read the story sequentially. It’s the perfect excuse to unplug, get some fresh air in southern Maine, and keep young minds active during the summer break.

Planning Your Visit The event is entirely self-guided and free to the public, running daily from June 13 through July 12.

  • Getting There: Trail-head parking is located on Olives Way, directly off State Route 25. You will find the turnoff just a short distance southeast of the Cornish-Limington town line.

Grab your walking shoes, pack some water and bug spray, and come enjoy a great story in the woods. See you on the trail!

Gratitude & Growth: Celebrating an Incredible Day at Devils Den!

Gratitude & Growth: Celebrating an Incredible Day at Devils Den!

Tadd Stuart

Hello FSHT Community,

Whether you have been walking our trails for decades or you signed up to join our newsletter list just today at the trailhead—thank you. Today, the Francis Small Heritage Trust hosted an Open House at our beloved Devils Den property. The cool spring air made for perfect hiking weather, keeping the bugs at bay and setting the stage for an unforgettable morning. Up near the historic cabin, visitors were treated to a beautiful display of local photos and a pristine view of wild pink lady’s slippers blooming right on cue.

The real highlight of the day, however, was the people.

We had a steady flow of foot traffic all morning. We shared stories with neighbors from around Bickford and Colcord Ponds, swapped trail tips with local rock climbers exploring the Devil’s Cartway, and introduced eager newcomers to our newly opened Connector Trail.

We also want to congratulate our raffle winners today! A visitor from Biddeford walked away with a brand-new FSHT tote bag, and a dedicated regular from the Healthy Sacopee hiking group won a copy of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, The Serviceberry.

A Moment of Profound Generosity
As an organization run entirely by passionate neighbors and volunteers, we pour our hearts into keeping these lands accessible, protected, and beautiful. Today, we were completely blown away when a local couple stepped forward with a commitment to the Trust to support our ongoing stewardship work. Words cannot adequately express how grateful we are for this level of trust and support. It ensures we can keep blazing new trails and protecting watersheds for generations to come.

To our long-time subscribers: thank you for your ongoing support. To our 14 new subscribers who joined us today: welcome to the family! We are so excited to have you on this journey with us.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming summer trail walks and events (and next time, we promise to put a lawn sign at the turn for Norton Hill Road so your GPS doesn’t have to guess!).

See you out on the trails,

The Board & Volunteers Francis Small Heritage Trust

Upcoming Late Spring Events with Francis Small Heritage Trust!

Upcoming Late Spring Events with Francis Small Heritage Trust!

Tadd Stuart

Devils Den Open House

đź“… Saturday, May 23
⏰ 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
đź“Ť Location:

113 Moody Rd, Porter, ME 04068 (Approach via Norton Hill Road only!)

Join us at the beautiful red-roofed cabin on the ledges and explore our brand new Gateway loop trail and Moody Road South trail! Explore this beloved Porter Hills property with fellow trust members and neighbors.

Note: Standard GPS may try to send you down an unnavigable route via Breakneck Hill Road. Stick to Norton Hill Road!

Note: There is a new ATV trail in the design phase – if you do drive up on your ATV, please park in the parking lot and hike up.

https://fb.me/e/kqBA0dTT4



Black Locust Flower Foraging (Canceled)

đź“… Saturday, June 6
⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
đź“Ť Location:

Ingalls Pond

Francis Small Heritage Trust is canceling the Black Locust Flower Foraging Event at Ingalls Pond on Saturday, June 6 at 10 a.m. It has been brought to our attention that while the rail line through the Ingalls Pond property has not been used by trains in 43 years, the Maine Department Of Transportation still maintains the right of way via pesticide treatment every other year, on odd years. While none of these sprays would harm people traversing the trails, eating plants or mushrooms that grow along those rails is not recommended by MDOT or FSHT.

A FSHT team looked for black locust trees that are away from the tracks and are short enough to forage from, but could not find any at the Ingalls Pond property. (There are many other black locust trees, but they are way too tall.)

Another issue that would affect black locust flower foraging on Saturday is that black locust flowers in this area are running quite late this year and are in tight bud right now. I am doubtful that there will be open flowers on Saturday.

We will have a mushroom foray in August at our Bald Ledge property for the foragers among us. Watch our Facebook page and website news for details.