Blandings Park Wildlife Sanctuary Blandings Way
Biddeford ME 04005
WELCOME ... We hope you will enjoy your visit to our website and that you will find the information here helpful. Please feel free to email us with any questions, comments or concerns. You can always reach us at any time at bpws@maine.rr.com or you can go to the CONTACT BPWS page and write to us from there.
A BRIEF BACKGROUND ... We are a grassroots 501(c)3 public charity land trust created and dedicated to preserve and protect all species through conservation, education, recreation, and research for the betterment of all ... we began our work in 2006, and we have accomplished much in a short period of time. For this we owe you our thanks and gratitude for your help, understanding, support, and much needed contributions.
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT to go to our NEWS AND EVENTS PAGE so you don't miss anything!
(We are so excited to announce TURTLE TREK Adventure Races)
so please look there and go to www.TurtleTrek.me for more information
Our goals are simple: we wish to save as much land as possible in our designated focus area surrounded by Pool Street, Guinea Road, West Street, and Granite Street in Biddeford, Maine. The exterior of our focus area is already well developed, mostly by single family homes. Our real focus is the interior portion which is very different and contains over 1,000 vacant acres of land. Most of this land is privately owned as small landlocked old wood lots, private residential lots, larger tracts belonging to builders and developers, and about 110+ acres held by the City of Biddeford. While some land in our focus area is still suitable for future development, a large area is home to several endangered and threatened wildlife species, including the Blanding's turtle and the spotted turtle. The interior of our focus area has been designated by the state of Maine as a significant wildlife habitat, rich in upland forests and valuable vernal pools.
Our mission is to protect and preserve as much of the interior land as possible for the purposes of conservation, education, recreation and research:
CONSERVATION -- We now have 161+ acres of land forever preserved, as well as agreements and active negotiations on about 100 more acres for possible BPWS acquisition. We hope to receive about 45+ acres in 2010. For this we can thank the generosity of surrounding landowners, developers, and the City of Biddeford. A valuable tool used by us and many land trusts is limited conservation development. It has always been our philosophy to cooperate with fellow landowners to create a win-win situation for all. You can learn more about our achievements on our ALL ABOUT BPWS page.
EDUCATION -- We began our educational outreach in 2008 which was so well received and attended that it has now become our annual LIFE (Learning is Fun and Educational) Lecture series. These are well publicized, free, and open to the general public. Be sure to watch the NEWS AND EVENTS page for up to date information. In 2010, we developed an internship for a University of New England environmental studies student. Please watch our site for research reports our intern is working on for us.
RECREATION -- We sponsored a group of "walks in the woods" in 2008 and 2009, led by RJ Mere, a noted Maine Outdoor Guide and Writer. We held our Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on February 15, 2010 to announce the completion of Blandings Way and the dedication of Terrapin Trail, our first groomed trail. Many miles of trails exist out in our focus area due to the history of granite quarrying in our area. Much work remains to connect these trails, groom them, and make sure they are safe for the general public to enjoy. We welcome volunteers interested in this hard but rewarding outdoor work. We are planning our first official fundraising event on 10/16/10 with the help of Saco Bay Trails (www.sacobaytrails.org) and the Biddeford Recreation Department (see our Save the Date notice on Trekking for Turtles and Trails) and hope that this becomes an annual event to challenge the athlete in all of us and provide outdoor fun for the whole family. Please check out the NEWS AND EVENTS page for up to date information.
RESEARCH -- During the winter months of 2008-2009, we participated in a research project with Americorps volunteers connected to the federal New England Cottontail study. This small rabbit, a species once plentiful in our area, is now on the endangered list. We are hoping to offer some of our BPWS land to the rehabilitation and/or reintroduction of this species. Dear to our hearts is the research that has been done on nesting habits of the Blanding's and spotted turtle. We hope to incorporate many of these ideas in our Sanctuary to aid in the saving of these two endangered and threatened species. Important work ahead for all of us at BPWS!
Our mission is to protect and preserve as much of the interior land as possible for the purposes of conservation, education, recreation and research:
CONSERVATION -- We now have 161+ acres of land forever preserved, as well as agreements and active negotiations on about 100 more acres for possible BPWS acquisition. We hope to receive about 45+ acres in 2010. For this we can thank the generosity of surrounding landowners, developers, and the City of Biddeford. A valuable tool used by us and many land trusts is limited conservation development. It has always been our philosophy to cooperate with fellow landowners to create a win-win situation for all. You can learn more about our achievements on our ALL ABOUT BPWS page.
EDUCATION -- We began our educational outreach in 2008 which was so well received and attended that it has now become our annual LIFE (Learning is Fun and Educational) Lecture series. These are well publicized, free, and open to the general public. Be sure to watch the NEWS AND EVENTS page for up to date information. In 2010, we developed an internship for a University of New England environmental studies student. Please watch our site for research reports our intern is working on for us.
RECREATION -- We sponsored a group of "walks in the woods" in 2008 and 2009, led by RJ Mere, a noted Maine Outdoor Guide and Writer. We held our Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on February 15, 2010 to announce the completion of Blandings Way and the dedication of Terrapin Trail, our first groomed trail. Many miles of trails exist out in our focus area due to the history of granite quarrying in our area. Much work remains to connect these trails, groom them, and make sure they are safe for the general public to enjoy. We welcome volunteers interested in this hard but rewarding outdoor work. We are planning our first official fundraising event on 10/16/10 with the help of Saco Bay Trails (www.sacobaytrails.org) and the Biddeford Recreation Department (see our Save the Date notice on Trekking for Turtles and Trails) and hope that this becomes an annual event to challenge the athlete in all of us and provide outdoor fun for the whole family. Please check out the NEWS AND EVENTS page for up to date information.
RESEARCH -- During the winter months of 2008-2009, we participated in a research project with Americorps volunteers connected to the federal New England Cottontail study. This small rabbit, a species once plentiful in our area, is now on the endangered list. We are hoping to offer some of our BPWS land to the rehabilitation and/or reintroduction of this species. Dear to our hearts is the research that has been done on nesting habits of the Blanding's and spotted turtle. We hope to incorporate many of these ideas in our Sanctuary to aid in the saving of these two endangered and threatened species. Important work ahead for all of us at BPWS!
With our long term goals in mind, we had some fun designing a new logo to represent all that we hope to accomplish in the coming years with your help, generosity, and participation. Please let us know what you think of our new turtle family logo!
PLEASE JOIN US IN OUR EFFORTS ... AND BECOME PART OF THE DREAM ...
Blandings Park Wildlife Sanctuary ... a place of refuge, peace, and sanctuary to all!
Blandings Park Wildlife Sanctuary ... a place of refuge, peace, and sanctuary to all!
