Who We Are

The Hanover Conservancy is the oldest local land trust in New Hampshire, founded in 1961. Our mission is twofold: to protect land and water in our community and to nurture an appreciation for Hanover’s natural environment.

A private, non-profit membership organization, we are not affiliated with town government, but work closely with our civic partners. Alongside our dedicated volunteers, we provide outdoor education for all ages, lead stewardship projects at our natural areas, conserve key Hanover landscapes and advocate for conservation-oriented public policy.

We invite you to join one of our many free trips and indoor events held throughout the year; come learn more about us and the outstanding natural and human communities we serve!

Founded in 1961, the Hanover Conservancy is the oldest local land trust in New Hampshire. When Hanover adopted its first town-wide master plan and zoning ordinance in 1961, it omitted a greenbelt proposed around the town’s most developed area.  That very day, a few concerned citizens – Bob Norman, Carolyn Tenney, George Wrightson, Ted Hunter, and Jean Hennessey – met to form a group to see what could be done to protect those places.  They were back the next year with a ballot petition for a new zone, Natural Preserve, which was readily approved by Town Meeting and now covers Pine Park and other lands later protected. This group incorporated as the Hanover Conservation Council and went on to advocate for a town conservation commission in 1966. 

The Council led the effort to protect key lands in Hanover – the Tanzi Tract, Balch Hill, South Esker, Connecticut River/Mink Brook confluence and more – and also in nearby towns. These included Lyme’s Wilder Wildlife Management Area, a Plainfield wildflower sanctuary, and the Grafton Pond Reservation. The Council also initiated a program of bird walks and nature hikes, helped with trail creation and maps, and helped integrate environmental education into the school science curriculum. All continue today through the Hanover Conservancy, which was rebranded in 2010 to clarify the organization’s role in Hanover.

The Conservancy is dedicated to the conservation of land and water, and to deepening the appreciation of natural resources for the benefit of the Hanover community and beyond. We achieve our mission with programs in land conservation, active land stewardship, environmental education and support for conservation oriented public policies.

As we come to the end of our 5-year strategic plan, VISION 2020, created in 2015, we are beginning to look forward. Our upcoming strategic plan will be shared in 2021. View our reports and newsletters here.