The Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation (ASLPT) is pleased to announce the closing on the McLeod Property off of Currier Road in East Andover. On January 21, the JD McLeod Company donated a 24.7-acre parcel of land in fee to ASLPT. The McLeod land donation represents the fourth property that ASLPT owns.

This 24.7 acres, south of the Rail Trail in East Andover, is listed in the new Wildlife Action Plan. Because of its significance to Andover, the Andover Conservation Commission voted to provide the funding for the stewardship of this easement. In the future, the Andover public and others will be able to enjoy this protected land.

Not only is this property a valuable addition of protected land, but it also has nearly 900 feet of frontage on the scenic Northern Rail Trail. This mostly forested property is highly ranked for wildlife habitat and also has extensive water resources, including a perennial stream that flows through a wetlands area along the western boundary of the acreage.

The McLeod property was protected with the assistance of the Town of Andover Conservation Commission, and the acreage was given to ASLPT by the JD McLeod Company with no restrictions. It will be managed for the public benefit, as is the intention of the ASLPT mission.

With the addition of the McLeod property, ASLPT now protects 138 properties comprising 11,091 acres in its 12-town area of operation.