PHIPPSBURG

The Phippsburg Land Trust is looking for a few good volunteers this month and next, as it works to undetake trail maintenance projects.

The PLT is a membershipsupported organization dedicated to protecting special wild and natural places in the town of Phippsburg. It holds conservation easements on private land and maintains eight preserves with trails open to the public.

Upcoming projects include:

. Sunday, May 17 — from 1- 4 p.m. meet like-minded trail lovers and help to clean up, clear out, and re-mark a trail section at Spirit Pond Preserve. Loppers and clippers will be available, although participants are welcome to bring their own trail maintenance tools. All participants should dress appropriately for work and bring their own gloves. Meeting location is the Spirit Pond Preserve parking area on Popham Rd (Rt. 209), just west of the Parker Head Road intersection.

. Saturday, May 30 — from 1-4 p.m., if the weather allows, volunteers will carry in paint supplies to mark blazes on trees at the Ridgewell Preserve, helping to define the trail and guide visitors through some rerouted sections. Volunteers should wear clothes that can get paint on them. The meeting location is the preserve parking area at the intersection of Pride Rock Way and Rt. 209 If rain occurs or conditions are too wet, this event may be postponed.

. Sunday, June 7 — from 1- 4 p.m. assist with the building of bog bridges for crossing wet areas in the trail. This workday will include some heavy lifting and carrying of tools and materials. Participants will learn bog bridge construction and other elements of trail maintenance. Please bring gloves, work clothes and shoes that can get muddy, and your own water bottle. Meeting location is the Spirit Pond Preserve parking area on Popham Rd (Rt. 209), just west of the Parker Head Road intersection.

The PLT also is looking for help constructing hand-made trail signs, which its trails display. There is a need for new signs for some trails and PLT would like to continue the tradition of creating these green and white, rustic signs by hand. Volunteers are needed with experience or interest in woodworking and sign construction to learn the process from one of PLT’s founders, Bob Cummings. This volunteer commitment would likely involve at least 2-3 hours of work on a weekly or biweekly basis until the needed signs are constructed. Any interested volunteers will be welcomed, and those with their own woodshop area and/or tools are especially encouraged to volunteer. Contact Cheri Brunault at cbrunault@kennebecestuary.org for more details or to set up a date and time for sign construction training.

Registration is recommended for all of the events and for sign construction. Those who are interested should contact Stewardship Coordinator Cheri Brunault at 442-8400 or cbrunault@kennebecestuary.org to sign-up. Visit www.phippsburglandtrust.org for additional event details, directions to preserves, and more information about volunteering.