North Fork Stewardship Center
PLT’s North Fork Land Tour Team
Denise Markut
Team from Downs Farm Preserve at Fort Corchaug led by Tim Caulfield, PLT Vice President for Conservation
Americorps Volunteers at North Fork Stewardship CenterThe Peconic Land Trust’s North Fork Stewardship Center (NFSC), located in Cutchogue, is the focal point for our land conservation activities on the North Fork. From this base of operations, our professional land stewards work with landowners and municipalities to develop and implement stewardship management plans that meet landowners’ needs and maintain the natural features and agricultural value of land on the North Fork.
The Center was established in 1999, thanks to the generous donation of a 3.8-acre preserve that is part of a 155-acre tract of protected farmland, woodland and wetlands known as Fort Neck, and was the site of the original, historic farmstead. This tract includes the Fort Corchaug National Historic Landmark, site of a mid-17th century fort built by members of the Corchaug tribe when English settlers began to move into the area. The property includes a rare English style post and beam barn, as well as other historic outbuildings. Restoration of the 18th century barn and continued maintenance of the preserve’s other buildings and grounds are ongoing projects of the Trust.