Who we are

 

We are a grass-roots organization of volunteers dedicated to the preservation and use of our natural and historic resources for the betterment of our community in Wicomico County, MD. Our partners include Wicomico Environmental Trust, Preservation Trust of Wicomico, The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, The Old Growth Forest Network, Pemberton Running Club, Eddy Foundation, Eastern Shore International Mountain Biking Association, and the Eastern Shore Running Club. We are known on Facebook as Friends of the Forest--Salisbury.

 

Summary of the land

 

• 340 acres of forest, fields, homestead, and riverfront purchased in 1997 with MD Program Open Space funds           ($900k) by Wicomico County

• County intent 1997: log forest for revenue, construct high-end RV park, construct high-end marina

• House rented, farm fields leased, forest leased for hunting (1997-2017); revenue into County ‘general fund’

• County objective: log forest for "timber revenue" (Stewardship Plan by MD DNR      here http://www.wicomicocounty.org/documentcenter/view/4209

• Forester’s report recommends ‘select cutting’ of forest to achieve County objective and for for ‘forest health’          (See T. Horton article In the News)

• 2016 County intent:  develop community park, low-impact activities and eco-tourism; ‘select cut’ forest, demolish      farmhouse.

• Forest needs full-ecological assessment by MD DNR Natural Heritage division

• House needs full historical review and objective assessment for potential re-use (See B. Knode article In the           News)

• Not open to the public, not yet a public park; please respect farmer’s and hunter’s lease rights, no trespassing