| Elisabeth Maley Donates 314-Acre Addition to Jennings Forest in New Durham
Good news for land conservation in New Hampshire! We recently expanded Jennings Forest in New Durham, thanks to Elisabeth Maley, daughter of Ellen Jennings. Jennings donated the 385-acre forest to the Forest Society in the 1980s and now Maley has gifted 314 acres directly across the road from the original property.
“I hope visitors are happy the Jennings Forest is protected and open to recreation,” Maley said. “There's going to be less and less land available, and I think it's important to have some land for people to explore.”
The Jennings Forest Maley Tract has wildlife habitat, working forest, and more than 7,000 linear feet of Hayes Brook, a perennial stream that's a first order tributary to Cocheco River, within the Great Bay Watershed. Over 90 percent of the property is in the focus area of the Coastal Watershed Conservation Plan. The project was also supported by The Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership and The Adelard A. and Valeda Lea Roy Foundation.
“Because protecting larger blocks of forest also increases the integrity of both wildlife habitat and water resources, the Forest Society places a high priority on expanding conservation areas already in our care and management — especially in the coastal watershed, where the potential for fragmentation and development is high," said Forest Society President Jack Savage.
The property will be open to the public for recreation including hiking, hunting, and fishing. A snowmobile trail on the property serves the Powder Mill Snowmobile Club and other people who utilize the trail system year-round.
Read more about the expansion of Jennings Forest here. |
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| | Meet our Seasonal Staff
The Forest Society recently welcomed four seasonal staff members to the team for the summer: Nate Forgan, Reservation Stewardship Technician; Matt Ferland, Forestry Technician; Donovan Lombara, Forestry Technician; and Madeline Smith, Easement Steward. With so much to accomplish during our field season, we're lucky to have their experience and expertise contributing to our work. (Pictured: Matt (left) and Donovan in the field)
Learn more about them here. |
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| | Trail Work Project on Track at Mount Major: Help Make it Sustainable!
The Forest Society’s sustainable trail work continues at Mount Major this month and is on track to be completed by mid-August. Significant progress has been made building a new section of trail to replace the severely eroded section of the Main Trail as the project reaches the halfway mark.
Jed Talbot, owner of OBP Trailworks, which is building the trail in partnership with Town 4 Trail Services, said the area has very large boulders, as expected: “It’s a slow process, excavating in terrain like this but I think the trail is turning out really, really well and I think it’s going to be absolutely beautiful,” he said last week.
While construction is underway, the parking lot is closed, as well as lower sections of the Main Trail. There's parking along the highway and a marked detour to the Main Trail. Hikers should park along the highway on the side closest to the lot – and not cross the highway to park. (It’s dangerous and vehicles may be ticketed by the town.) You can read FAQs about the Mt. Major project here.
Sustainable trail construction is not a small undertaking. To support the project, the Forest Society must raise more than $300,000. Will you help keep recreation sustainable at Mt. Major by making a donation? |
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| | Forestry in Focus: What's Wrong with This Tree?
It’s summer — why are our white pines turning brown? This June we’re seeing a dramatic “browning” of white pine needles across the region, and many people have been asking what could be creating this change. We’re happy you're taking notice and are concerned about forest health. So, what is going on?
Find out here! |
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| | Forest Notes is Here!
In the spring issue of Forest Notes, learn about Lulu Fichter's "Water Fired" River Pods, the balance between landfills and green space, and news on the American chestnut revival. Members should have received the latest issue of Forest Notes in their mailboxes and the free digital issue is available to everyone on Issuu.
Not yet a member? Join today to receive our quarterly print conservation magazine. |
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| | Something Wild: Trout are Made of Trees
Senior Director of Education Dave Anderson (left) has fished the Lane River in South Sutton for decades. For a recent episode of Something Wild on NHPR, he spent the morning on the banks of the Lane River with John Magee, of NH Fish and Game, to talk about how trout are made of trees. (Their conversation was inspired by the book, Trout Are Made of Trees, by April Pulley Sayre.)
“When it comes to wood and streams, that wood is as natural to a stream as the water," Magee said. "... An interesting thing that a lot of people have researched... If you have very little wood in a brook trout stream, you tend to have fewer brook trout. They also tend to be smaller. Another way to say it is the more wood in a stream, the more trout and the bigger they get.”
Read or listen to the episode here. "Something Wild" is a joint production of New Hampshire Audubon, the Forest Society, and New Hampshire Public Radio. (Photo: Jessica Hunt, courtesy of NHPR) |
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| | Save the Date: Annual Meeting on September 21
The Forest Society's 123rd Annual Meeting will take place at the Monadnock Country Club in Peterborough on Saturday, Sept. 21. The meeting will include field trips to explore our Monadnock Region properties, lunch, and a keynote address by Annie Proulx, author of Fen, Bog & Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis. Proulx received the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for The Shipping News. Registration opens in August! |
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| | A Busy Spring: Volunteers Clean Up 25 Pounds of Trash and Plant 1,400 Seedlings
It takes a lot of work to prepare for the busy hiker and visitor season on Forest Society trails. Thankfully, we have lots of hardworking volunteers who help us prepare for the many thousands of people who visit our properties each year. This spring, we’ve hosted nine workdays on our properties with the help of 93 total volunteers, including groups from Southern New Hampshire University and Hypertherm Associates (pictured, right).
Highlights included picking up 25 pounds of trash at Mt. Major on Earth Day, clearing five bags of trash from Grafton Pond, planting 1,400 seedlings at The Rocks, and breaking the ice at Lost River Gorge. Volunteers also created 62 signs to be put up across Forest Society properties, to replace existing signs that had either rotted or fallen, or where we noticed visitors are having difficulty finding their way.
“Trail work and property maintenance is time consuming and physically grueling,” said Forest Society Land Steward & Volunteer Coordinator Laurel Swope-Brush, “Without our volunteers, we would be stranded in an ocean of responsibility and work demanding to be achieved. With their help, though, that ocean shrinks to a lap pool.”
Read more here. Thank you, volunteers! |
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| | | | Striking a Balance in Berlin: Help Protect 730 Acres of Forestland!
Following on the heels of the 3,700-acre Mahoosuc Highlands Project in Shelburne, the Forest Society now seeks to acquire 730 acres of forestland in Berlin. For the Forest Society, this project strikes a desired balance: conserving 730 acres of Northern New Hampshire’s wood basket near mills and transportation; providing public recreational access from local neighborhoods; linking and expanding large blocks of conserved forestland; and protecting streams like Tinker Brook that drain to the Androscoggin.
To acquire the property, the Forest Society must raise a total of $675,000, the majority of which is likely to be funded through grant programs. To demonstrate a broad base of support that will help secure those grants, we hope you will consider a gift to this project today. Our goal is to raise $50,000 from individual donors by June 30, which will support land acquisition, associated costs, and a long-term stewardship endowment for care and maintenance in perpetuity.
Support the Berlin project today! |
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| | Shakespeare 101 at The Rocks
Presented in partnership with the Weathervane Theatre, we're excited to announce two special performances of North Country Shakes: Shakespeare 101 at The Rocks!
If Shakespeare is the greatest playwright ever, why is he so hard to understand? Have no fear — Shakespeare 101 is here! From witty insults to iconic expressions, join us for two special performances outside in The Rocks' Amphitheater and experience Shakespeare as it’s intended — live and in person! Conceived and adapted by Jorge Donoso, this funny, high-energy show, like Shakespeare, is for everyone and runs 45 minutes. FREE! No reservations required.
• Monday, June 24 at 5 PM
• Friday, June 28 at 5 PM
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Upcoming Events & Workdays
THE ROCKS, BETHLEHEM
Mon-Fri, June 24-28 from 9 AM to 12 PM
Pollinator Garden Planting Project at The Rocks
CONSERVATION CENTER, CONCORD
Open through Tuesday, June 25
"Unexpected Encounters" art exhibit by Mimi Wiggin
GIPSON FOREST, GREENFIELD
Thursday, June 27 at 9 AM
Volunteers needed for trailwork!
BRETZFELDER PARK, BETHLEHEM
Friday, June 28 at 11:30 AM
Drawn to Trees en plein air workshop with Kelly Slater
THE ROCKS, BETHLEHEM
Sunday, July 14 at 10 AM
Volunteer appreciation day
CREEK FARM, PORTSMOUTH
Monday, July 22 at 6 PM
Full Moon Zentangle: Buck Moon
THE ROCKS, BETHLEHEM
Wednesday, July 31 at 6 PM
Nature's Calling Community Gathering
See the full event calendar here
Cover photo: Ammonoosuc River Forest, Bethlehem
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