The Walpolean

See Walpole Rail Trail Improvements

Guided Hike-–Sunday, November 19

Rail Trail Project Completion: The 2023 project to improve drainage on the Cheshire Rail Trail in Walpole is complete!  Drainage ditches have been dug out, culverts have been cleared, and/or the trail surface has been raised at a few of the very wettest areas along Walpole’s rail trail. Users should find a much drier trail year-round, though there will still be some wet spots (especially when it rains.)

Public Rail Trail Hike: We invite you to join us for a guided hike at 12:30 pm on Sunday, November 19, to see and experience the newly renovated sections of the rail trail.  The hike will cover about 4 1/2 miles of the rail trail, between the Route 123 crossing on the north end and Blackjack Crossing Road on the south end.  This will be a one-way hike, with shuttles available back to the starting point.  Please send an email to walpoletrailhelpers@gmail.com to register for the hike or to get further information.  Details about where to park and what to bring will be sent to registered participants.

Visit the Rail Trail: We would encourage any interested walkers, bicyclists, equestrians or other non-motorized users to check out the renovated portions of the Walpole rail trail.  Remember, no motorized vehicles are allowed on the rail trail except for snowmobiles. Maps of the rail trail are available on the Walpole Conservation Commission website (walpoleoutdoors.org/maps/) and in Town Hall.

Thanks:  Thanks to all who’ve made this project possible, including the Recreational Trails Program, the Walpole Conservation Commission, the Walpole Selectboard, trail builder Lew Shelley of Snowhawk LLC and nine volunteer trail workers.  Thanks also to all those in the Walpole area who’ve cheered us on.

You can send any questions or comments to walpoletrailhelpers@gmail.com.

Wendy & Will Grossman

Walpole Rail Trail RTP Project Managers

Walpole Trail Committee

7.3 acres of productive farmland used by Pete’s Stand in Walpole is now forever conserved.

WALPOLE, NH – The Monadnock Conservancy has finalized the purchase of a conservation easement covering 7.3 acres of farmland in Walpole, NH. This land is actively farmed by the owners of Pete’s Stand, a local farmstand that has been in business in Walpole for three generations. 

With the purchase of this conservation easement – a legal agreement that forever restricts the use of this land to farming and undeveloped open space – the Conservancy is working to protect the region’s access to locally grown food. Near the banks of the Connecticut River, all of the 7.3 acres are ideal for growing vegetables and are among the most fertile soil types in the entire country. Although the Route 12 corridor in Walpole contains many acres of productive farmland, commercial development has taken away much of this land. The Monadnock Conservancy is proud that this property can remain farmland for generations to come. 

John and Teresa Janiszyn own and operate Pete’s Stand, which was started by John’s grandfather. They grow a variety of vegetables on the property and others nearby using sustainable farming techniques. This parcel will be the first and currently only farm field that the Janiszyns own outright, a big step for ensuring the viability of their historic and beloved local business. By purchasing this conservation easement, the Conservancy helped John and Teresa buy the land. 

“Local farms provide so much to this region, and I am always pleased when we can keep farmland in the hands of farmers. As a Walpole resident myself, I am especially happy that our organization is helping Pete’s Stand continue to thrive, especially in light of the extreme weather and flooding that impacted so many farms this summer.” – Ryan Owens, Executive Director, The Monadnock Conservancy. 

Generous funding support for this project came from the New Hampshire Farm Future Fund, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Thomas W. Haas Fund, and many private donors. 

About The Monadnock Conservancy

The Monadnock Conservancy, founded in 1989, is the only land trust dedicated exclusively to the Monadnock region of southwestern New Hampshire. Serving 38 towns and the City of Keene, its mission is to work with communities and landowners to conserve the natural resources, wild and working lands, rural character, and scenic beauty of the region. Based in Keene, the Conservancy is an accredited organization that has protected more than 23,000 acres of forest, farmland, shoreline, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and recreation trails. For more information, please visit http://www.MonadnockConservancy.org or call 603-357-0600.