The Morrissette Property was donated to the Town by the Exeter School District to offset impacts from the High School construction. When owned by the school, the footbridge provided access to the large open field which was formerly the football. Prior to the school’s ownership, this land was owned by Joseph and Lillian Morrissette who farmed the land. The remnants of their apple orchard are signs of its farming history. Today these apple trees are managed to provide food for deer, turkey and other wildlife
A 0.5 mi. main trail connects Linden Street just south of the Little River bridge to the skate park on Court Street and follows along the south side of the Little River. A footbridge off this trail provides access o the YMCA, Seacoast School of Technology, and the Great Bay Charter School. Two additional trails were recently installed through the wooded section of the property. The 0.24 mi Orchard Trail can be accessed from the Court Street end of the main trail and meanders past remnant apple trees from the former farm and a white pine woodland. A 0.24 mi. Little Brook trail is accessible near the Linden Street side of the main trail by the kiosk. This trail connects to the Orchard trail and meanders through a woodland with pitch pine, pocket wetlands and a small brook.
This property protects a unique combination of woodlands, shrubs, riparian river corridor and an open grassy field, supporting a wide variety of species for food, cover and breeding -- all within a short walk from downtown. In order to keep the fields open, the Conservation Commission conducts late season mowing of the land. This allows time for birds to nest and their young to disperse and allows bees and butterflies to feed off the wildflowers and allows those flowers to spread their seed before winter. Protecting a vegetated buffer along the shoreline of the Little River is also an essential component to keeping the river healthy.
Grassland and shrublands are declining habitats in the northeast. Preservation of these areas through land conservation affords long term protection for important wildlife such as the ruffed grouse, and the American woodcock whose mating flight is a welcomed sight each spring.
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Town of ExeterParking can be found at the John C. Littlefield Memorial Skate Park on Court Street. When school is not in session, parking is also available at the Seacoast School of Technology lot near the automotive building where a short trail and footbridge over the Little River connects you to the property.
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