Smithfield
Plantation
is a
hundred
acre
parcel
of town
owned
land
located
at the
corner
of the
old
Libby
Road and
the
Huntington
Hill
Road.
Originally
recognized
as a
unique
piece of
property
in the
middle
1970's,
it
became
permanently
protected
by an
ordinance
voted on
in 1989.
It was
first
used
mainly
for
educational
purposes
as a
nature
/conservation
center
dedicated
to
advancing
a
hands-on
science
curriculum
by the
Litchfield
schools.
Many
local
groups
and
organizations,
such as
the 4-H
Clubs,
Senior
Citizens,
Girl
Scouts,
Boy
Scouts,
and
Eagles
Scouts
have
also
used and
improved
the
area,
with
various
approved
projects.
There
has been
ever
increasing
activity
at
Smithfield
Plantation
with the
Board of
Trustees
encouraging
various
nature
activities,
projects,
and
workshops.
This
spring
the
Smithfield
Plantation
Trustees
partnered
with the
Litchfield
Schools
and
Project
Learning
Tree
(part of
the
Maine
Tree
Foundation)
to train
local
educators
and
volunteers
in
various
ways to
use
Smithfield
Plantation
for
educational
purposes.
In 2001
a new
trail
was
built
through
a grant
from the
Department
of
Conservation,
with
help
from the
Conservation
Corps.
and
volunteers.
Then a
new
trail
was
created
which
follows
along a
beautiful
stone
wall and
then
connects
to the
old
trail.
Smithfield
Plantation
has
recently
become a
favorite
walking
area of
many
local
citizens.
There is
a
natural
amphitheater
at
Smithfield
Plantation.
In 1995
Eagle
Scout
Darren
Collins,
with his
Boy
Scout
Troop,
created
benches,
and a
podium
at the
amphitheater.
It was
used for
several
years as
a
“classroom”
by
Litchfield
students.
Darren
and
several
of the
people
who
originally
helped
make the
benches
refurbished
them last
summer. Also,
a new
trail
facility
was
added to
the
Amphitheater
area.
In 2008
Smithfield
trustees
wrote
for and
received
grants
for a
forestry
plan for
the area
and for
a Safari
in a Box
for
educational
purposes.
This can
be
borrowed
by any
group
using it
for
educational
purposes
- see
chairman
or town
office.
The
Smithfield
Plantation
Trustees
are
currently
working
on
getting a
maintenance
and handicap
accessibility
route to
the
amphitheater. In
addition
to the
grants
the
trustees
are also
in
contact
with
Exxon
Mobile
Pipeline
Co.,
which
has
expressed
an
interest
in
possible
financial
support
for some
of our
projects.
source:
Betty Jo
Wade