Welcome to our e-newsletter for August 2008. This is a photo of one of the Forest Society's newest reservations, which includes a mile and a half of frontage along the Salmon Falls River.
Question: What river does the Salmon Falls River become before reaching the Atlantic Ocean?
Send your answer to CaptionQuiz@forestsociety.org. All correct answers received by August 29th will be entered into a drawing for a free Forest Society hat or tote bag!
We received numerous correct responses to the previous issue's Caption Quiz about how many Christmas trees are sheared at The Rocks Estate each year. Our winner this month is Renee LaBonte from Concord, NH. Click here for last month's photo, question and answer.
|
Quick Links |
2,100-acre Washburn Family Forest in Clarksville Now Conserved
|
|
Forest Society Raises $2.8 million for Connecticut River Forest Project
More than Six Miles of River Frontage, Working Forest, Wildlife Habitat, and Snowmobile Trail 128
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (Forest Society) successfully reached the $2.8 million goal needed conserve 2,121 acres of working forest and wildlife habitat that forms the gateway to Pittsburg and the Connecticut Lakes region along scenic Route 3 north of Colebrook. The property, which includes more than six miles of pristine shoreline along the upper Connecticut River, a regionally significant deer yard and an important snowmobile trail, is now the Forest Society's largest forest reservation north of the notches.
Click here to read the full story.
See what other media outlets have to report on this story!
|
Help the Forest Society complete the Sawmill/Pigpen Project at the Rocks Built in 1906, the Sawmill/Pigpen is one of the most unique historic buildings remaining at the Forest Society's Rocks Center in Bethlehem. Last spring, the Forest Society began a campaign to gather the funding needed to restore the Sawmill/Pigpen and convert it into a new Sugar House and Interpretive Center.
The Sawmill/Pigpen building is next to a stand of sugar maples, providing easy access for maple tree tapping and sap collecting demonstrations. The maple programs draw hundreds of visitors to The Rocks each year to who enjoy tapping the trees and tasting the final result of syrup boiled from sap. So far we've raised $34,000 toward our goal of $98,600 - funding that we've invested in the building's restoration. However, we still need to raise the additional $64,600 needed to have the building in ready for sugaring in the spring of 2009. Please make your gift today to help us save a piece of New Hampshire's farming history, and to keep a legacy of conservation and 'wise use' alive!
|
Forest Journal:
Old Growth Is More Than Big Trees
By Dave Anderson
|
|
What do you think of when you hear the words "old growth?" Most people visualize sunlight filtering through towering trunks of giant sequoias or redwoods or western hemlock growing in a majestic, ancient forest cathedral. Others hear an echo of 1980's controversies over Spotted owls and timber harvesting in the Pacific Northwest.
What about remaining "ancient forests" in New Hampshire?
While interest in western old growth forests has captivated the public for the past 20 years, popular understanding of remaining rare fragments of eastern old growth forest has lagged. Most people have never seen one. They're very hard to reach. If that weren't so, they'd have been logged long ago!
Read more of Dave Anderson's Forest Journal.
"Forest Journal" appears in the New Hampshire News section of the New Hampshire Sunday News and online at UnionLeader.com.
Court Supports Jaffrey Mountain Zone
Rules that 28-unit Project Cannot Be Treated as One Lot
When a real estate developer proposed that his 28-unit project be considered one lot, eyebrows were raised in both Jaffrey and Concord. When both the Jaffrey Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment concurred, a lawsuit was filed.
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and a group of Jaffrey residents challenged the 28-unit condominium development planned for construction within the Town's designated Mountain Zone.
For the full story, click here.
|
|
Abbott Thayer Screening Recap
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests co-sponsored the recent screening of "INVISIBLE: Abbott Thayer and the Art of Camouflage" at the Colonial Theater in Keene. This documentary film explored the life of Abbott Thayer, an artist who worked and lived at the base of Mount Monadnock in Dublin at the turn of the last century. Two of his other notable accomplishments include helping to permanently protect Mount Monadnock in partnership with Forest Society Founder Philip Ayer and creating the foundation for modern camouflage.
Years of Timber Harvests Laid to Waste by Tornado
Harry Tudor's family bought property in South Barnstead in 1938. For decades he has managed it for timber harvests. Last week's tornado passed through his property, leveling about 30 of his 100 acres of trees.
"All in just a few minutes," Tudor said. "Mother Nature. Things happen."
As homeowners continue to assess damage from the tornado that plowed a 50-mile path through the landscape, timberland owners are scrambling to figure out how much they have lost and what can be salvaged.
The state has said an estimated 8,400 acres were affected by the tornado, most of those forested. For those who have spent years carefully planning the growth of their woodlots, the damage can be devastating.
Click here to read the full story in the Concord Monitor.
|
|
Tender Corporation
Tender Corporation is a family owned company located in Littleton, NH. Founded in 1975, the company manufactures a host of first-aid products and insect repellents, including the world-famous AfterBite and Ben's Insect Repellent. Tender Corporation supports New Hampshire organizations that are committed to the betterment of trails and natural landscapes, including the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, The American Hiking Society, the Outdoor Writers Association and the Outdoor Industry Association. The company donated insect repellent to the Forest Society's trail maintenance crews during trail week last month.
Upcoming Events
The Forest Society will co-host many exciting and informative summer field trips and events.
107th Annual Meeting
|
|
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Muster Field Farm, North Sutton
Robert S. Bristol, the founder of Muster Field Farm, stipulated in his will that a working farm always be in operation and that the museum work to support and preserve the agricultural traditions of rural New Hampshire. Today, 240 of the museum's 250 acres are under a conservation easement with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and a program of selective cutting and sustainable forest management maintains diverse stands of mixed hardwoods and softwoods.
Ashuelot River Headwaters Tour, Lempster
|
|
Saturday, August 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ashuelot River Headwaters property. Lempster
Explore the rocky shore of Sand Pond before climbing to the bald summit of Silver Mountain to enjoy extraordinary views of Lempster Mountain and the Andorra and Pillsbury highlands. Join us as we showcase the "Ashuelot River Headwaters" property and detail the larger landscape of the Quabbin to Cardigan land conservation initiative. Learn how a campaign to protect 1,800 acres surrounding Silver Mountain, Long Pond and Sand Ponds in Lempster will conserve large blocks of the highest quality forestland, watershed and wildlife habitat in southern N.H. A proposed easement will protect drinking water supplies, preserve scenic and recreational values and secure a connection between large complexes of protected land to the north and south.
Public Invited to Tour Forest Society's Energy-Efficient Conservation Center
|
|
The Forest Society's award winning, energy efficient Conservation Center will be open to the public for touring on Saturday, October 4th from 10am to 4pm. Find out how the Forest Society harnesses the sun's energy passively and actively, discover the different design techniques used to conserve water and energy, and learn how we use one of New Hampshire's most renewable resources to heat our campus during the winter. Tours will run throughout the day.
This event will take place in conjunction with the 2008 Green Buildings Open House day, a national celebration of sustainable building design. The open house offers members of the public a unique opportunity to see clean energy and green building practices at work.
The Conservation Center is one of many buildings in the Northeast using clean renewable energy and other green building technologies. On October 4th, hundreds of these buildings will open their doors to the public for the Green Buildings Open House. Homeowners and building managers will be on site to describe their green building features and answer questions.
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association organizes the Green Buildings Open House in the six New England States, plus Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. For more information, including a database and map featuring all participating host sites, please contact Mary Biddle at 413-774-6051 x22 or click here for more information.
Exhibits at the Conservation Center in Concord
|
|
Catherine Bligh: Exploring New Hampshire, August 18 through September 26, 2008 at the Conservation Center in Concord. The work of fine art photographer Catherine Bligh of Concord features landscape and nature images that showcase New Hampshire's hidden gems. Blight sought to present a vision of the state often overlooked by visitors and residents alike, one that will hopefully inspire people to visit these unique places and find others of their own. Opening reception on Friday, August 22 from 6 to 8 pm.
|
|
Anne Garland: Fragile Ground...Wetlands, October 1 through November 13 from 9 am to 5 pm at the Conservation Center in Concord. Bogs, peat lands and salt marshes are just a few of the wetland types you'll find in the oil paintings and prints of Jackson, NH's Anne Garland. Anne's work reflects the variety and vastness of wetlands, as well as the planes, textures, and light and dark elements of these ancient fragile grounds. Anne's work also explores the Florida Everglades and Georgia coast, as well as studies of many wetland inhabitants.
|
|
Debbie Kardaseski: Mother Nature Up Close, November 27 through December 30 from 9 am to 5 pm at the Conservation Center in Concord. Debbie Kardaseski of Loudon, NH is a photographer and graphic designer with a keen eye for composition and color - especially in natural settings. Her photographs, unretouched and presented as found in nature, focus upon flowers and textures, as well as items seldom noticed by most people as they walk by. Reception Saturday, December 6 from 10 am to 4 pm.
Special Events
UNH Cooperative Extension Offers Volunteer Training
UNH Cooperative Extension, in partnership with several natural resources agencies, will host NH's Natural Resources Volunteer Program beginning in September 2008. Community Tree Stewards, Earth Team and Wonders of Wildlife volunteers will receive core training over 12 sessions that includes:
- NH ecosystems, watersheds and changing land use;
- wildlife species and habitats; soil and water resources;
- working with local governments for natural resource management;
- land conservation and protection; tree identification, evaluation, planting, and care;
- threatened and endangered plant and animal communities;
- sustainable living, integrated landscaping, and
- climate change - what you can do to help make a difference.
Courses will take place at the Community Colleges in Manchester and Stratham from September 3 through November 21.
For more information or an application, click here or call Pam Doherty at 603-629-9494 x 120.
Forest Society News is a monthly update from the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
If you are having difficulty reading or printing this newsletter, an online version is available here.
To unsubscribe, use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this newsletter.
To create a new subscription, click here.
The Forest Society does not rent, trade, or sell email addresses to anyone.
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is the state's oldest and largest non-profit land conservation organization. In order to preserve the quality of life New Hampshire residents know today, the goal of the Forest Society, in partnership with other conservation organizations, private landowners, and government, is to conserve an additional one million acres of the state's most significant natural lands for trails, parks, farms and forests by 2026.
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests
www.forestsociety.org
info@forestsociety.org
54 Portsmouth St. | Concord | NH | 03301
603-224-9945