Along the winding Josias River in Cape Neddick lies an incredible 181-acre parcel of forested land that is, as of this August, protected in perpetuity by York Land Trust. It is a place where wild brook trout swim freely and old stone walls crisscross in the dappled sunlight; a place where the rich history of York is still seen and felt at every turn. The pine-dominant piece, which contains not only a diversity of tree life but also forested wetlands, vernal pools, and important historical resources including a stone foundation and a graveyard, lies within a 700-acre block of undeveloped forest and abuts other York Land Trust and Great Works Regional Land Trust conservation parcels. The 181 acres came to York Land Trust as a remarkably generous donation from longtime York resident and devoted conservationist Becky Linney. The project has just crossed the finish line after five years of dedicated planning and fruitful collaboration between Becky, her daughter Shanlee, and York Land Trust’s Land Protection Specialist Doreen MacGillis.
This special piece of land holds a fascinating history. At the turn of the nineteenth century, the property was the likely spot of the Foxy Welch homestead. While not much is known about Foxwell C. Welch and his family, it is thought that he was a yeoman, or small landowner, with a wife and eight children. He passed away in 1854, and the land eventually passed to the Perkins family. Then, in the early 1970s, Becky and her late husband, David, acquired the property. In 1972, they opened Groundnut Hill Nurseries Inc., a longstanding local business that supplied hardy woody and ornamental plant material for the budding green industry in Maine and New Hampshire. David, a savvy businessman and passionate fisherman with deep ties to coastal Maine, had long wished to formally conserve the property after the nursery closed. Becky has worked hard to carry out his wishes, stating that she’d like her land to be “preserved with all it has to offer for the next generation. I didn’t make it, I can’t replace it, and when it’s gone, it’s gone.”
The property’s unique history and location – nestled within so much ecologically valuable forest in York Land Trust’s otherwise highly-developed 6,300-acre Cape Neddick Focus Area – make it an exceptional donation that will now remain as crucial wildlife habitat and peaceful woods forever. York Land Trust is incredibly grateful to Becky and Shanlee for their partnership and deep commitment to conservation and is eager to explore public access to this important parcel going forward.
“This historic gift from Becky and her family represents the very best of what conservation can be: a legacy of love for the land,” said York Land Trust Executive Director Amelia Nadilo. “It is a reminder that conservation is not only about protecting land, but also honoring the people and stories that have shaped it.”
Becky Linney, left, and Amelia Nadilo, right, at York Land Trust’s Annual Members Gathering in October 2025.