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Protecting the Royal River for current and future generations
Protecting the Royal River for current and future generations
who we are
Royal River Conservation Trust (RRCT) is a Southern Maine land trust focused on conserving land across the communities of the watershed.
Founded in 1988, the Trust protects and stewards land through acquisition, conservation easements and other legal agreements, and collaboration with a wide range of conservation partners. RRCT's work is made possible almost exclusively by charitable gifts.
Learn moreMAKE A GIFTMake a gift
Make a gift to protect our watershed
Your gift to Royal River Conservation Trust protects and stewards fields, forests, farmland, wetlands, and trails throughout the Royal River watershed.
Learn moreEXPLORE
Explore our watershed
All Royal River Conservation Trust preserves possess their own unique characteristics and are open to the public free of charge year-round.
Learn moreVOLUNTEER
Volunteer to protect our watershed
Volunteers established Royal River Conservation Trust in 1988 and continue to be vital to our operations. We are always looking for talented people to help advance our mission.
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Photo Credit Kristel Hayes
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
Volunteers established RRCT in 1988 and continue to be vital to its operations. From trail stewards and committee members, to special event supporters and Board Directors, the Trust welcomes community involvement and wants to hear from you.
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Upcoming Events
Saturday, April 26th, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: Libby Hill Forest Trails, Gray. Meet at the parking lot kiosk across from the Gray-New Gloucester Middle School.
Join Master Naturalist Marie Camillo for a vernal pool exploration! We will hike to a vernal pool at Libby Hill Forest Trails and look for egg masses, macroinvertebrates and fairy shrimp. This vernal pool outing is offered as part of the Falmouth Maine Master Naturalist class, but is open for all to attend!
Royal River Conservation Trust is partnering with Wild Seed Project, Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, and Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik (APCAW) to offer a four part series of educational walks called the Ash Tree Stewardship & Education Program. The walks are designed to raise public awareness and encourage stewardship of ash trees, which the invasive Emerald Ash Borer beetle critically threatens. This program aims to protect Maine’s forest ecosystems and support the cultural traditions of the Wabanaki people, who have long relied on Brown Ash for basket making.
Each walk in the series will equip participants with practical skills they can apply in their own forests and communities to help protect and preserve ash in Maine.
During this Ash Identification walk, you’ll learn how to identify ash trees by their bark, branch/bud arrangement, and leaves. We’ll also discuss the threats posed by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer and the steps we can take to protect these vital trees.
Participants should wear waterproof boots and be prepared to hike off-trail!
📅 Date & Time: Thursday, May 1st, 4:00 - 5:30 pm
📍 Location: Intervale Preserve (Lower Village) in New Gloucester. The primary legal point of access is from the Foxcroft Multi-Use Trail, which leads downhill from the intersection of Church Rd and Gloucester Hill Rd. Park at the church parking lot at 19 Gloucester Hill Rd, New Gloucester, where we will meet and walk to the preserve together.
🎟 Register here!
Help Build a New Trail on the Royal River!
📍 Location: New Gloucester, Maine. Address will be provided to registrants. (Parking lot and road shoulder parking available)
📅 Date: Saturday, May 3 (Rain Date: Sunday, May 4)
🛠 Hosted by: AMC Maine Chapter Trail Committee & Royal River Conservation Trust
Join us for a hands-on Trail Skills Workshop this spring as we help establish a brand-new 1.5-mile primitive loop trail on RRCT's recently conserved 150-acre property along the Royal River in New Gloucester! This exciting project, in partnership with the AMC Maine Chapter, will provide public hiking and fishing access once complete.
Choose Your Session:
📅 Three options available:
• Morning Session: 10:00 am to 12 pm
• Afternoon Session: 12:30 to 2:30 pm
• Full-Day Session: 10:00 am to 2:30 pm (Lunch: 12 pm to 12:30 pm)
What You’ll Learn & Do:
Led by experienced AMC volunteer trail crew leaders, this workshop will cover essential trail-building skills, including:
✔️ Defining trail corridor dimensions and proper layout
✔️ Pruning techniques for sustainable trail maintenance
✔️ Trail placement (discussion-based)
✔️ Hands-on trail work – clearing brush, improving tread, and defining the new route
Project Details:
• The trail route will be pre-flagged before the workday.
• Volunteers will help clear and establish the trail, which crosses an open field, loops through the woods, and includes a spur trail to the river.
• RRCT Stewardship Director, Hanae Garrison will be on-site all day to provide a walkthrough before we begin.
• This is a large project, but RRCT’s volunteer Trail Crew will continue the work after our session.
Who Can Join?
✅ No prior trail work experience is needed!
✅ Tools and guidance will be provided.
What to Bring:
🔹 PPE Required – Work clothes, sturdy boots, eye protection, sunblock, and bug repellent (for ticks & mosquitoes).
🔹 Water Snacks, bag lunch (if doing the full day session)
📩 Registration required. Sign up now!
🔹 Be a part of building a brand-new trail for the community!
Trip Leaders
Phillip Coyne, Rota Knott, Hanae Garrison