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In 1990, when Dave “Red” Taplin bought and conserved 320 acres in Strafford and Thetford, VT, he was thinking about his community, his neighbors, and the values he lived by.
Just a few miles away as the crow flies, Huntington Farm, a landmark equestrian center, was struggling. Its miles of scenic fields along a main road were at risk of sale and development. UVLT, founded in 1985, was in the early years of our conservation mission and teamed up with local residents. A grant application being prepared would be more competitive if matched with promises to conserve additional land, and as we discussed this with community members, we were introduced to Dave.
Dave felt most close to nature while working in the woods on this land a mile or so up a class four road from his original house site. The conservation easement he quietly donated was the largest we had received to date. It became a conservation anchor in the ecologically rich forest block he cared deeply for and was key to the successful campaign protecting Huntington Farm.
Over the next 35 years, Dave acquired more land and tended it with care. When facing his terminal illness, he and his loved ones took steps to conserve his exceptional piece of the Upper Valley landscape for coming generations. He passed away on April 1 after protecting over 700 acres.
“From UVLT’s earliest days, Dave Taplin was always a trusted partner and steward of the landscape we all love,” said President Jeanie McIntyre. “Without fanfare or fuss, his gentle, generous, neighborly way contributed so much for nature and people here.”
Dave’s partner, Courtney Dobyns, and her children, Rye and Travis Keller, were family to Taplin. The well-being of the environment and its inhabitants has always been central to their shared interests and they are pleased the land has been conserved forever.
To honor Dave’s legacy of land conservation, a fund has been set up in Dave’s name to support and encourage the permanent protection of outstanding land and water resources in the towns of Strafford and Thetford.
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