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December,
2005
Dear
Friends,
Since
its founding in 1960 CCF has been dedicated to protecting Carlisle's
open space and preserving its rural character. Last April at
our first ever CCF Board retreat at the New England Forestry
Foundation in Littleton, we enthusiastically renewed our commitment
to this mission and discussed strategies for its continued implementation.
We're
all familiar with the challenges facing Carlisle today:
- the
impact of 40B developments,
- threats
to our water supply,
- affordable
housing obligations,
- declines
in agricultural activity,
- shrinking
wildlife habitat,
- lack
of support for conservation at the state level,
- fiscal
constraints to funding municipal conservation initiatives, and even encroachments on already protected land.
With
your help, CCF is in a unique position to counterbalance some of
these challenges by working with private landowners and other public
and regional entities to protect land and maintain open space.
CCF
believes that critical to these efforts is a renewed emphasis
on community outreach to foster appreciation and support for
land conservation. This means working with the schools to weave
conservation into curriculum; communicating with our members
around critical conservation issues at the local and state level;
collaborating with the Trails Committee to fund trail improvements
and encourage more people to explore them; enhancing our website
as a conservation resource; and offering community activities
and gatherings centered around conservation.
We also have an ongoing responsibility for the land we hold.
CCF currently owns
212 acres outright and holds Conservation Restrictions on an
additional 178 acres. We have a commitment to maintain and monitor
this valuable, protected space in perpetuity.
As
an all-volunteer organization, we rely on your support through
this Annual Appeal to facilitate the permanent protection of
additional open space through legal and surveying assistance,
to maintain the land that is already under protection, and to
fund our community outreach and education.
CCF
needs your new or renewed membership, and we encourage you to
consider increasing your tax-deductible contribution to CCF.
What better investment can you make in our town? We look forward
to your partnership in our conservation efforts and very much
appreciate your support.
 
P.S. For donors contributing $250 or more, CCF Board members will
lead a Guided Walk in Estabrook Woods at a date to be arranged.
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