Doe Farm - Background & Invasive Species

The Doe Farm, an 87 acre tract of forest located south of Bennett Road and east of the railroad in Durham, was bequeathed to the Town in trust by Olinthus N. Doe in 1909. The property includes substantial frontage on the Lamprey River. Within the property are the foundation (cellar hole) for the former farmhouse, the Doe family cemetery and a network of scenic trails. Interpretive signage has been placed to assist visitors in understanding this beautiful site.

The property is operated as a tree farm, with occasional harvests and sales of mature timber. At present, the Town is conducting a program (See document on this webpage) to control and hopefully eliminate several invasive species infestations. Two of the tree species which are important to the value of the property as a tree farm are green aspen and red pine, both of which are threatened by spreading pest infestations, making the invasive species program more time sensitive. An experimental study by UNH of the Emerald Ash Borer, a pest spreading from outside the country, took place during the summer of 2020. A tree harvest was conducted late in the winter of 2020-21, structured as a salvage harvest to remove all red pine trees which could reasonably harvested before they became infested. Details of this harvest are in a document on this webpage. The proceeds from this harvest will be employed in the invasive species removal program.

More detail on Doe Farm can be found on the Land Stewardship Sub-Committee webpages.