Burley-Demeritt
A former dairy, sheep, poultry and crop farm, the Demeritt farm was purchased by UNH in 1969 to be used by the department of animal science and others for agricultural education and research purposes. The current focus for the agricultural part of this farm is the development of a new organic dairy. The Demerritt farmstead is being reviewed for renovation and protection as a cultural heritage resource.
Wooded areas on the farm consist of approximately 198 acres. Substantial frontage on the Lamprey river makes this property important in regards to protection of this important waterway and its’ associated habitat. In fact, both this and the Dudley lot are targets for permanent land protection measures by the Town of Lee and the Lamprey River Advisory Committee.
General wildlife habitat types here are forest, non-forest and water. This property is multi-use so is open to the public for most forms of non-motorized recreation including hunting, fishing and all forms of pedestrian traffic. This lot is periodically harvested as part of UNH’s sustainable timber harvesting program. The last commercial harvest performed on this property was in 1985.
Research associated with Burley-Demeritt:
- Outwintering Beef Cow study
- Wild Turkey Ecology study
- Lamprey River Hydrologic Observatory
Predominant tree species: white pine, hemlock, red oak, red maple, shagbark hickory.
