43: Walking the Plank



Saco Heath Preserve, Saco, Maine
S A C O,  M E

Frankly, of the now forty two Nature Conservancy (TNC) preserves I’ve visited, Saco Heath is one of the very best.  Simply a beautiful place. 

 TNC envisions a world where people act to conserve nature for its own sake.  Saco Heath is ideally located to perpetuate that mission.  In an area of growing population and with very easy access, the property brings conservation awareness to the general public in a very touchable way.  In addition to its beauty and easy access, its impeccably maintained multicolored-boardwalk makes this preserve strikingly photogenic – an important draw in a selfie-obsessed world. 

The boardwalk weaves atop the fifteen foot thick sphagnum peat moss base of this 1,200 acre bog whose poor soil quality attracts a rare assemblage of plants including pitch pine, Atlantic white cedar and cotton grass.  Multi-colored too are the plentiful mushrooms and berries found here.  Blue, red, and black berries along with white, beige, black and red mushrooms pepper the understory heavily colored by a profusion of vibrant green ferns.  At the end of the boardwalk, the trail loops shortly around a forested island bringing another dimension to the joyous walk this property offers.  The lollipop shaped trail at Saco is a strolling delight.

Shortly into our own walk, a bit of rain begins to fall.  I give Allison my rain jacket leaving me to stay dry now only under the narrow brim of my Tilley hat.  But really, the rain doesn’t bother me one bit.  Water is the lifeline of this preserve, so to be here as it replenishes has its own charm.  Allison now re-geared seems also to be unconcerned with the rain.  Perhaps my positive attitude about the projected sunless forecast is wearing off on her. 

Though wandering at will in any direction at any time is one of life’s great freedoms, walking the colorful planks as they lead you through an amazing landscape here at Saco is a wonderful freedom as well.  TNC’s vision of people acting to conserve nature for its own sake comes clearly into focus here at this preserve.  Access is incredibly simple; yet after just a few steps along the plank, away from the growing population, the wonders of nature take over.  

P.S. – It’s pronounced sock-o.



LEARN MORE ABOUT TNC’S WORK AT SACO HERE.

Location: Saco Heath Preserve, Saco, ME

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