Red trail: From the parking area, follow a short connector trail east to the Jolly Rand Trail which lies just outside of the eastern boundary line of the property. This 1.3 mile long ancient cart path goes from Pickpocket Road to Brentwood Road (Route 111-A). Side trails connect to Blackford Drive and Exeter West Condominiums.
Pennell Path leaves the Jolly Rand Trail about 500 feet north of the parking lot connector trail. It parallels the northerly boundary line and crosses two small streams before exiting the property at a stone wall marking the boundary line with RiverWoods.
The Blue Trail loops off of the Pennell Path and provides a nice overlook of the small pond.
Martha Pennell donated this 13-acre parcel to the Southeast Land Trust (SELT) in 2014. It is named in honor of Martha’s aunt, Emma Kimball, from whom she received the land.The Kimball family has deep roots in this area tracing back to Reverend John Wheelwright, the founding father of Exeter.
The family home still stands on Pickpocket Road and this is the last remaining portion of Kimball Farm which included extensive acreage in this general area. Portions of the land near the parking area and along the Jolly Rand Trail were used as a Victory Garden during the Second World War. Two small streams flow through the property into Pennell Pond located in the southwest corner of the reserve. The woodland is largely composed of a beautiful mix of oaks and shagbark hickories.
This donation would not have been possible without generous support from RiverWoods at Exeter and nearly 100 private donors. These gifts will support the long-term stewardship of this community open space.
The Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire is a membership-based, non-profit whose mission is to protect and sustain the significant lands in our communities for clean water, outdoor recreation, fresh food, wildlife, and healthy forests. SELT works in the 52 communities of southeastern New Hampshire to voluntarily conserve special places for the public benefit through conservation easements and ownerships. Once land is conserved, SELT ensures the conservation goals are met through our landowner easement stewardship program and through sustainable management of SELT-owned lands. Join as a member or volunteer today!
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A small parking area and kiosk are located off Pickpocket Road in Exeter near its junction with Route 111.
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