Thoreau's Country: Conserving the New England Landscape
David Foster is director of Harvard Forest and author of multiple books about the history
of the forested landscape in New England. Harvard Forest comprises 3,000 acres of land,
research facilities, and the Fisher Museum. Here scientists, students, and collaborators
explore topics ranging from conservation and environmental change to land use history
and the ways in which physical, biological, and human systems interact to change the
earth. Harvard Forest recently released a New England-wide conservation vision called
Wildlands and Woodlands.
Forest Society : 108th Annual Meeting Field Trips and Workshops
Most field trips and tours are free. Field trips
begin at various locations and times and will
return to Camp Carpenter in Manchester by
3:30 p.m. Space is limited, so register early.
Field trip details and directions will be mailed
or e-mailed with annual meeting registration
confirmation.
1. Historical Farms, Forest, and Frontage on the Piscataquog
Tour conservation land in New Boston with
the Piscataquog Land Conservancy and the
Forest Society. We'll drive to the conserved
75-acre Nixon property on Old Coach Road,
where we'll hike well-maintained trails to
the South Branch of the Piscataquog River.
After lunch at the New Boston Library on the
banks of the South Branch, we'll hike the Two
Brooks Trail at the Alan and Edgar Rice Natural
Area in Lyndeborough.
Trip Leaders: Paul Doscher, Forest Society and
Gordon Russell, Piscataquog Land Conservancy
Difficulty: Moderate
Co-sponsor: The Piscataquog Land Conservancy
2. Hands on the Land: Two Families'
Love for the Land in Candia
Learn more about how an abiding love for the
land has managed to keep this gateway to
Candia green in the face of persistent development
pressure. This trip will focus on the
Forest Society's Natt Emerson Forest, the
Audubon Society's Abe Emerson Marsh, and
the Pearson Family Tree Farm in Candia. The
Pearson family has harvested thousands
of board feet of timber over the years. This
working white pine tree farm is at the center
of an area that has seen many changes.
Trip Leader: Dan Sundquist, Forest Society
Difficulty: Moderate
3. Water Quality and Forest Management at Massabesic
The Lake Massabesic watershed collects and
stores rainfall to provide drinking water for
159,000 people in the region. Many species of
wildlife live in these 8,000 acres of land.
Manchester Water Works (MWW) is responsible
for providing drinking water and fire
protection to the City of Manchester and
many surrounding communities. Watershed
management also includes active forestry.
MWW annually performs a selective timber
harvest on about 300 acres to develop the best
tree cover for the forest environment and
promote controlled water retention and runoff.
Option 3A: Walking Tour Naturalist-guided walking tour to scenic
Battery Point on Lake Massabesic, site of
a former historic hotel.
Trip Leaders: Dave Anderson and Ken Stern
from the Forest Society, John O'Niel from MWW
Difficulty: Easy walking on level hiking trails
Co-sponsor: Manchester Water Works
Option 3B: Mountain Bike Tour Join Forest Society staff and Friends of Massabesic
Bicycling Association (FOMBA) on a
bicycle tour around Little Massabesic Pond.
BYO bicycle and gear, including helmet,
water, clothing, etc.
Trip Leaders: Denise Vaillancourt and Chris Wells, both
of the Forest Society, with Jack Chapman of FOMBA
Difficulty: Challenging
Co-sponsor: Friends of Massabesic Bicycling Association
4. Of Fruit and Fish: A Scenic Tour of Londonderry's Conservation Lands
Explore Londonderry's famed "Apple Way,"
a state-designated scenic highway connecting
five apple orchards. Our largely van-based
tour will begin and end at Mack's Apples,
where you can pick your own or purchase
apples, pies, cider, and more. Then join us on
an easy walk through the Forest Society's
Bockes and Ingersoll Forest Reservation to a
Native American fishery along Beaver Brook.
Cost: $10 for transportation.
Trip Leaders: Mike Speltz and Joyce El Kouarti,
both of the Forest Society
Difficulty: Short, easy walks plus van transport provided by Londonderry Ford
Co-sponsor: Londonderry Conservation Commission
