Please join Harpswell Heritage Land Trust and Friends of Baxter State Park for a forestry tour of the 228-acre Austin Cary Forest. This unique property is located on Sebascodegan Island (aka Great Island) in Harpswell, Maine. It includes 180 acres of woodland, 34 acres of saltmarsh, about 14 acres of freshwater wetlands, and extensive frontage on Long Reach and Doughty Cove.

This property was once owned by Austin Cary, one of Maine’s first forest researchers. Cary had a long and accomplished career as a forester both in Maine and in the southern United States. The property was purchased with funds from a trust established by Percival Baxter for land acquisitions by the State of Maine. In keeping with the trust, the 1973-74 deeds transferring this property to the State of Maine contain the condition “that the land be used for a demonstration forest, wildlife management area, or for other educational and scientific uses.” The Baxter State Park Authority is responsible for management of the Austin Cary Forest.

The tour will be led by Barrie Brusila of Mid-Maine Forestry. It is scheduled for 9:30am –12:00pm on Saturday, September 21, with a rain date of Sunday, September 22. Space is limited, and advance registration is required.

This event is currently full - please click here to join the waiting list.

If you are planning to attend this event, the 2019 Forest Management Plan provides very useful background reading and will help to familiarize you with the Austin Cary Forest ahead of time.