The final week of October marked the beginning of a new and exciting era for the Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) as we officially moved our operations to Oak Point Farm. After more than 35 years operating from a number of different locations, the past nine of which were at a rented office space on Townsend Avenue, this move marks BRLT’s transition to a permanent home. Oak Point Farm, located at 60 Samoset Road in Boothbay Harbor, became the land trust’s newest preserve this past spring, following more than a year of strategic planning and consultation to outline BRLT’s organizational needs and requirements for a permanent headquarters. The resulting purchase is a spectacular property that uniquely suits BRLT’s conservation, education and recreation goals.

Since closing on Oak Point Farm, the BRLT board, staff and volunteers have been hard at work ensuring that the new property would be prepared to serve the operational needs of BRLT even while the major renovations and improvements will continue into 2018. The new parking area is now established off of Samoset Road and electrical wiring has been added and updated to outfit the farmhouse for use by administrative staff. Maintenance repairs to the roof have been completed. Preliminary trails have been established and bridges have been placed around the preserve, which is already attracting a steady stream of visitors.

The move itself would not have been possible without the invaluable help of a dedicated team of volunteers who worked throughout the late summer and early fall to pack and transport office supplies, furnishings and equipment to the new location. We are deeply appreciative to all of the many volunteers who came together to ensure that the move was accomplished with minimal impact on day-to-day operations.

We ask for your patience during the coming months as we settle in to our new space. By relocating to Oak Point Farm prior to completing major renovations on the farmhouse, we hope to gain insight that will lead to the most successful plan for improving the space based on our needs and use of the building. However, this early relocation will also mean some interruptions to our work and some inconvenience to our members and the public. Throughout the winter and spring, the farmhouse will not be open to the general public. The best way to contact Boothbay Region Land Trust is to call (207) 633-4818 or email brlt@bbrlt.org.

During this transition, we invite you to enjoy the trails already established at the preserve and to look for events at Oak Point Farm this winter and spring. Thank you for your understanding and support. We look forward to sharing this new space with you and watching it become a hub for outdoor recreation and environmental education in the years to come.