MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown residents will see more activity at Rabbit Hill Nature Sanctuary early this year as new signage is evaluated and dead wood removed, while retaining snags for woodpeckers.

Preservation and maintenance of the 9.5 acre site at 21281 Stewart St. in Middletown is the responsibility of Lake County Land Trust.

Volunteer Land Trust directors are developing a land management plan for the site including protection, educational and scientific use, passive recreational use and restoration.

Two studies essential to the land management plan include the vegetation survey by Paul Aigner and Cathy Koehler, co-directors of UC-Davis McLaughlin Reserve in Lower Lake, and a cultural resource investigation completed by Dr. John and Cheyanne Parker of Archeological Research in Lucerne. Cathy Koehler is also executive director of the Lake County Land Trust.

A formal bird survey is planned for this spring.

Pete McGee, Land Trust president, began removal of invasive tree-of-heaven trees on Rabbit Hill. This ornamental plant, originally from China, is undesirable because it crowds out native plants.

Other land management considerations for Rabbit Hill Nature Sanctuary are trails with maps, interpretative signs, and liaison with schools and other conservation groups.

Rabbit Hill is special to generations of Middletown area residents who received handmade gemstone rings when they started kindergarten from Hugo “Huck” and Juanita “Skee” Hamann, who lived on the site.

In a recorded oral history of Rabbit Hill, Middletown Librarian Gehlen Palmer remembers visiting the Hamanns as a youngster, playing scrabble during stormy weather, and listening to classical music.

The Hamanns left their land to Sonoma County’s Madrone Audubon Society, which later deeded the property to Lake County’s Land Trust for protection.

Public comments on how people would like to use Rabbit Hill, and their thoughts and stories about the site, are welcome. Please call 707-262-0707 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Land Trust directors are Christian Ahlmann, Clearlake; Jon Ambrose, Hidden Valley Lake; Michael Friel, Lower Lake; Brad Barnwell, Tom Gilliam and Kristi Groff, Lakeport; Roberta Lyons, Lower Lake; Nina Marino and Tom Smythe, Kelseyville; Pete McGee, Middletown; and Keith Peterson, Finley.

For more information, see www.lakecountylandtrust.org .