Aldermere Farm
136 acres
Property Description
The 136-acre Aldermere Farm, a landmark of Midcoast Maine, is one of the world’s premier breeders of Belted Galloway cattle (belties). MCHT maintains Aldermere as a working farm and educational center, helping visitors deepen their appreciation for land conservation and sustainable agriculture. Nestled on the western shore of Penobscot Bay in Rockport, Maine, Aldermere Farm has been an area landmark for generations. Maine Coast Heritage Trust owns and manages this working farm thanks to a generous bequest made by the late Albert H. Chatfield, Jr.
Aldermere Farm is a traditional New England saltwater farm, with rugged fields, weathered stone walls, a rocky shoreline, and simple yet elegant structures. The farm includes fields, woods, and wetlands, as well as the buildings and grounds. Although most people associate Aldermere with the Belties, the farm is also a compelling example of progressive agriculture and a caring land ethic. The late Albert Chatfield, Jr. and his wife Marion restored the land with innovative conservation methods and organic agriculture. It was a lifelong task, and the farm’s splendid condition today attests eloquently to the Chatfields’ devotion to the land they dearly loved.
Aldermere’s pastoral vistas and undeveloped shoreline are prized scenic features of Rockport and Camden, and will remain so forever thanks to conservation easements Mr. Chatfield placed on the property. Determined to protect the farm from the relentless build-up of Maine’s coast, Mr. Chatfield worked with Maine Coast Heritage Trust to establish protective easements which legally preclude subdivision and development. Aldermere Farm shows how working farms can be an important aspect of conservation and community planning.
---------- Preserve Boundary
Download a printable preserve map (PDF)
Preserve information/guidelines
- No Camping Permitted
- No Fires Permitted
- Stay on Established Trails
- Foot Traffic Only – Trails Are Not Suitable for Wheeled Vehicles
- Carry Out All Trash
- Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
- Pets are Not Permitted
- Please Respect the Privacy of Preserve Neighbors
How to Get There: From the junction of Route 1 and 90 in Rockport head 0.3 mile east on West Street. Turn left at the intersection. Drive 0.5 mile and then veer right onto Russell Avenue. The Farm is located 0.6 mile on either side of the road.
More information is available at Aldermere.org.
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