Doe Farm

Bennett Road | 87 acres

DIRECTIONS: from Durham Town Hall follow Route 108 south about 1.4, then right (west) on Bennet Road about 0.8 miles. The property is past the LaRoche Farm and just before the railroad bridge. Parking is in a gravel lot on the south side of Bennett Road.

Doe Farm Trail Map and Property Summary

Learn about the Doe Farm Forest

TIMBER HARVEST - JANUARY 2021

A timber harvest was completed in January 2021 under the guidance of consulting forester Charlie Moreno. A primary purpose of this planned harvest was to salvage most of the red pine that is infested with the invasive red pine scale. To read more click here.

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Study at Doe Farm

On May 14, 2020, UNH Postdoctoral Research Associate Todd Johnson gave an excellent presentation to the Land Stewardship Subcommittee (LSC) on his emerald ash borer (EAB) research proposed for Doe Farm, which the LSC endorsed. You can view his presentation here. New Hampshire has three species of ash trees (all occur at Doe Farm) that are threatened by the non-native EAB. Todd, and his colleagues in the Forest Ecosystem Health Lab of Dr. Jeff Garnas, are evaluating how chemical defenses vary across tree size/age in green and white ash and their impact on EAB and its control. This study will provide valuable information on managing EAB and protecting ash trees here and across the country. The research team completed their project at Doe Farm in October 2020. For more information about research in Dr. Garnas’ Lab click here and for more information about the emerald ash borer, click here.

EAB Project Update: June 24, 2020

EAB Project Update: July 29, 2020

EAB Project Update September 2, 2020

EAB Project Update October 14, 2020

ABOUT THE PROPERTY:

From the parking lot, a woods road leads past a metal gate, to a clearing that also serves as a log landing during forest management operations. Doe Farm is tucked between Bennett Road to the north and the Lamprey River to the south. It offers a network of beautiful 3+ mile network of woodland trails that lead to the Lamprey River and its backwaters. The property’s 3,000 feet of shoreline helps protect the water quality of the Wild & Scenic Lamprey River.

Doe Farm is an upland forest with a mix of red oak, white pine, red pine and Norway spruce plantations. Small streams and seepages drain in a southeasterly direction toward the Lamprey River. Pockets of shrub wetlands and floodplain forest are found along the stream drainages and along the Lamprey River. Periodic timber harvests and invasive plant control help maintain a healthy forest.

Olinthus N. Doe bequeathed Doe Farm to the Town upon his death in 1909. The Doe family burial ground and cellar hole of the family homestead are located just beyond the forest clearing.

In 2019, an information kiosk, new trail bridges, and other trail improvements were completed at Doe Farm. This was accomplished with the help of volunteers, interns, Student Conservation Association NH AmeriCorps, and Public Works staff, with funding from Durham conservation funds and the generous contributions of local citizens to the Patron’s Trust. In addition to more than 25 smaller donations, the Town of Durham received major gifts from the following people: Malin and Will Clyde, Jim and Amy Lawson, Tracy Schroeder and Kenny Rotner, Ann and Carden Welsh, and two anonymous donors. Special thanks to Durham resident John Nachilly for his extraordinary volunteer time working on the Doe Farm trails and bridges.

RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: