Francis Small Heritage Trust, Inc.

Website Update: Major Progress on Our Porter Hills & Norton Hill Project Pages!

July 3, 2026Tadd Stuart

We have some exciting updates to share regarding the Francis Small Heritage Trust website (fsht.org)! If you head over to our “Current Projects” section under the “News” menu item, you will find completely updated and redesigned project pages reflecting our incredible conservation progress in Porter, Maine.

Here is a breakdown of what has changed and what you can explore online:

1. Porter Hills Phase I – Celebration & Completion

Our updated Porter Hills Phase I page showcases the successful completion of this ambitious initiative. Originally launched in 2022, Phase I has matured into a thriving community resource.

What’s new on the page:

Four New Hiking Trails: Explore details on the Devils Den Trail, Gateway Trail, Devils Den Connector, and Colcord Trail—all developed and opened since 2023.
Two Paths to Bald Ledge: Learn about the newly completed Colcord Trail, providing a spectacular second route up to the breathtaking panoramic views at Bald Ledge.
Community & Connection: Read about our recent historical preservation milestone installing a new headstone for Revolutionary War soldier Samuel Brooks, and our winter recreation events.
Infrastructure & Safety: Details on our new parking areas, informational kiosks, and our volunteer-led blaze orange vest program for hunter safety education.

2. Porter Hills Phase II is now the “Norton Hill Property” Page

Reflecting our shifting milestones, the page formerly known as Porter Hills Phase II has been officially updated to the Norton Hill Property Progress page. This section details how we are successfully connecting isolated conservation lands to create a continuous, larger block of protected land.

Key highlights featured on the new page:

New Acquisitions: A look back at our April 2024 acquisition of approximately 100 acres on Moody Road, made possible through Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) funding.
Trail Network Updates: Current progress on the flagged and developed Devils Den Connector Trail (Moody Road South Trail) and upcoming trail plans for the 131-acre Norton Hill parcel—including a planned accessibility-enhanced trail to a scenic overlook.
Ecological Stewardship: Learn about the two significant vernal pools identified by DIFW biologists that FSHT is fully committed to protecting.
Innovative Land Care: Read about our exciting upcoming cooperative effort with the La Finca Farm Cooperative to use goats for natural brush and invasive plant management on the Moody Road North property.

Explore the New Pages Today!

We invite you to visit fsht.org, check out the new maps, view photos of the properties, and see firsthand how your support makes a permanent impact on conserving land and a way of life in Southern Maine.

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

June 5, 2026Tadd 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!

May 23, 2026Tadd 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!

May 15, 2026June 2, 2026Tadd Stuart

Devils Den Open House

📅 Saturday, May 23
⏰ 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
📍 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)

📅 Saturday, June 6
⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
📍 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.

Announcing Our New Explorer’s Guide!

May 13, 2026Tadd Stuart

We are excited to share that our brand-new Explorer’s Guide tri-fold brochures have officially arrived! These professional guides highlight the Francis Small Heritage Trust’s mission to safeguard the large, connected landscapes of Southern Maine while providing a high-quality resource for our community to discover the preserves and trails we manage.

You can expect to see these guides at our upcoming local events and, very soon, stocked at our trail kiosks for your convenience.

What’s Inside the Guide?

The brochure features a detailed trail map and highlights eight unique locations for you to explore:

Ingalls Pond: Ideal for birdwatching and nature study among interconnected ponds and wetlands.
Jagolinzer Preserve: Offers a loop with breathtaking views of the Saco River.
Devils Den: A historic spot with panoramic vistas and fascinating geological features.
Heath Loop Trail: A quiet walk through a significant local wetland.
Colcord Trail: A moderate ascent through hemlock groves leading to scenic ledges.
Bald Ledge: Features spectacular summit views at an elevation of approximately 1,185 feet.
Sawyer Mountain Highlands: A challenging trek with an elevation gain of over 1,000 feet.
Sawyer Mountain via Smith Trail: Access the mountain from the Limerick side for a 3-mile round-trip hike.

Get Your Copy

Keep an eye out for these brochures at our next event! If you know of a local spot that would benefit from displaying these guides, please reach out to us at info@fsht.org so we can coordinate distribution.

Can’t wait for a physical copy? You can view our full list of trails and maps anytime at https://fsht.org/trails-and-maps/.

1. Porter Hills Phase I – Celebration & Completion

2. Porter Hills Phase II is now the “Norton Hill Property” Page

Explore the New Pages Today!

What’s Inside This Issue:

How to Read

What’s Inside the Guide?

Get Your Copy