Talbot-Taylor Wildlife Sanctuary
The Talbot-Taylor Wildlife Sanctuary
History of the Sanctuary from Nestled Here – A History of Brookline, New Hampshire 1915-2018
www.brooklinehistory.org
[updates in brackets made in 2/2023]
The Talbot-Taylor Wildlife Sanctuary is a seventy-acre example of what one family’s foresight and dedication can accomplish. In 1981 Harold and Ruth Taylor generously granted the Town of Brookline a Conservation Easement to the sanctuary.
When Hal Taylor bought the land in 1958, the forest was much as it is today, but there was no pond. The 22-acre pond is the result of many years of labor. It required obtaining permits, cutting dead trees, digging the pond, and building a dam in 1964. To build the dam, Hal Taylor enlisted the help of the Army Corps of Engineers and an expert from the Soil Conservation Service. This resulted in one of the town’s most valuable wildlife sanctuaries. The land surrounding the sanctuary is now dotted with homes, but the sanctuary itself stands timeless, immune to the threats of development.
Man-made Talbot-Taylor Pond with earthen dam, as seen in early spring 2016. (Eric DiVirgilio)
Accessible only by foot, the sanctuary welcomes anyone who ventures along the wooded path from the road. This path was built by the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), a group formed by the Conservation Commission to work on town lands and educate young people about conservation. [The "path" is the Sassafras Trail. The Sanctuary is also accessible from the Dam Trail. Please refer to the Trail Map (here).] The group also opened a parking area and erected a sign. [Unfortunately the sign and parking area had to be removed when Cleveland Hill Road was improved.] A short walk along the entry path, which every year is studded with lady slippers, brings you to the pond lying at the base of Potanipo Hill. As Robert Bramley wrote in Our Place in 1983:
The pond itself abounds with wildlife at virtually all times of the year, and day. In the early morning as the mist creeps across the pond, one can often observe the busy endeavors of beaver and the quiet stalking of the blue heron in search of the many frogs. Both ducks and geese, which fly in at dusk, often stay on to rest and enjoy the quiet solitude, broken only by an occasional low-flying aircraft. Numerous spots provide locations for observing wildlife or for simply enjoying a picnic lunch. There are few locations in Brookline more peaceful than this.
As stipulated in the Conservation Easement, the sanctuary is monitored by the Conservation Commission which has rights and responsibilities to maintain the area, including the pond and earthen dam. But the Commission would have been at a loss without the help of Hal Taylor’s grandson, Matthew Sawyer, who lived near the sanctuary, and shouldered much of the responsibility of monitoring and maintaining it. He kept the dam clear of brush and ensured that the spillway remained open. He also maintained several wood-duck boxes and brought poplar to the beaver in the winter. Matthew, who inherited his grandfather’s love for this wilderness, hoped that the sanctuary would continue to fulfill its educational and recreational purpose, without impairment to the land or discouragement to wildlife.
Youth Conservation Corps members hang a sign at the entrance to the Talbot-Taylor Wildlife Sanctuary on August 17, 1983.
Brookline residents and their guests are welcome to explore the Sanctuary during daylight hours. Please observe the following rules during your visit:
- The principal purpose of the Wildlife Sanctuary is for the observation and study of wildlife and nature, and for passive recreation including canoeing, kayaking, picnicking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
- The Wildlife Sanctuary is open to Brookline residents and their guests during daylight hours only.
- Access to the Wildlife Sanctuary is restricted to the trailheads for the Sassafras Trail on Cleveland Hill Road and the Dam Trail on High View Drive. Refer to the Trail Map (here).
- Hunting and trapping are prohibited.
- Motorized vehicles including snowmobiles and motorized boats are prohibited.
Thanks to the foresight of Hal Taylor and the work of many individuals, the Talbot-Taylor Wildlife Sanctuary will be a place to quietly enjoy Brookline’s natural beauty for generations to come.