Sheldrick Forest Preserve, West Wilton, NH   Raymond Caron
  Mar 27, 2005 06:57 PST 

This is my first posting to this discussion list. Let me start by
saying the ENTS site has been breath of fresh air since my discovering
it last winter. It's provided me with many hiking destinations to go to
from my home here in urban Waltham MA. Your site and it's postings have
really enhanced my "art of seeing" the woodland landscape.

Related to developing the art of seeing the forest I wish to report on a
snowshowing trip we took yesterday to the Sheldrick Forest Preserve in
West Wilton NH. The tract is owned by the Nature Conservancy. The
following text was cut and pasted from thumbnail description of the site
provided on Nature Conservancy web site:

http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/
newhampshire/preserves/art314.html 

"Sheldrick Forest Preserve is 227-acres of high quality old forest in
Wilton. It contains more than six natural communities, glacial drift,
seeps and streams, mountain laurel and a variety of interior forest
breeding birds."

"An outpouring of grassroots support enabled The Nature Conservancy to
purchase the 227-acre Sheldrick Forest Preserve in Wilton in June of
1996. Since the acquisition, the chapter has constructed over three
miles of trails; published a Trail Map & Guide; developed an
Interpretive Guide called "Everything Changes: Discovering the History
of Sheldrick Forest", that corresponds to 19 interpretive points
throughout the forest; written a Teachers Guide to address the same
interpretive points in greater detail; and lastly developed 24
independent Youth Activity Sheets."

"We hope that the trails, information, and activities will offer a
diverse array of opportunities for visitors of all ages, interests and
abilities. Sheldrick is an extraordinary forest that you will want to
return to and observe, as it changes through the day, seasons, and
years. There is much to discover..."

A kiosk at the tract's parking area provides a really fine 47 page
interpretetive guide to the preserve that could serve as a model for
other area managers such as William Cullen Bryant tract in event
Trustees of Reservations are looking for someone to write a guide for
them. It really made the woods come alive for us.

I've visited many ENTS western Mass sites and although not as impressive
as sites I've seen in Western Mass, there are some nice trees and stands
of trees. I was pleased to see Boston Metro area has some old growth
localities. There's an adjacent tract called the Heald Tract (NH) that we
explored a little bit and will come back to explore at later dates. The
Heald Tract encompasses a nice variety of lowland ecosystems that
includes large and small river and floodplain environments. Nearby is
Wapack Range and associated trails for upland ridge top environments
that were pasture lands not that long ago and still afford long range
views.

Speaking of Boston Area Old Growth, I'd recommend taking a look at Blue
Hills Reservation. This area has been parkland for over 100 years and
I've seen many fine specimens and groves of hardwoods that are really
coming into their prime and would certainly merit ENTS taking a look at
if you're ever in the area. Great Meadows Wildlife Management Area in
Concord also has nice stand of White Pine which coupled with Concord
River wetlands teaming with migratory waterfowl makes for
multidimensional outdoors experience.

Raymond Caron

-------------------------------

http://www.souhegan.net/Wilton.html 
http://www.pccs-nh.com/trails/heald.html

 
RE: Sheldrick Forest Preserve West Wilton NH    Sky Davis
   Mar 28, 2005 05:19 PST 

Raymond,

When I started reading your post the first thing I thought was, I wonder
if he's been to the Blue Hills? Glad to hear that you have. I used to
go riding there.   Is there still a problem with rattlesnakes? I've
hiked the area too, many times, but it's been years since I have been
there. I also used to go hiking at Fields Parkway in Brocton when I was
a little girl with my Grandfather. I wouldn't recommend hiking there
now though.

Have you hiked the Fellsway? I used to go there quite often, and for
years went there every vernal equinox to watch the salamanders court
(which is a weird thing to do, I know, but it was amazing to watch).
Some great trees and if you are interested in geology it's wonderful,
especially Tower Hill.

Have you been to Moose Hill in Sharon? It's not super impressive but
theres a few stands of old growth.

The state forest in Carlisle (Great Brook Farm)is a must see if you
haven't been there before. The hikes are nice with a variety of
terrain. There's a good amount of old growth. Once you get into the
deep woods there's a magical quality to the place. If you ever head out
there, do visit Turtle Rock. It's a sacred site, I used to caretake it
until I moved out to western MA. Don't forget to leave a little
something on the turtles back.

King Phillips Woods in Sudbury is sort of nice but there is something
creepy about it. I don't know if it has to do with the history of the
area or what.

If you can get out to the Andover area I could fill your day with great
hikes and trees. Harold Parker has some nice trails but I would stay
off of the main ones. There is another area in Andover to hike, theres
a few stands of big trees but the coolest thing by far is this lone
little apple tree in the middle of the woods. It's a Baldwin apple tree
of which there are only a handful left. It produces a minimal amount of
fruit but do to the lack of light it's inferior. Baldwin Apples
originated in Wilmington, I'll get to Wilmington in a second. Also in
Andover is West Parrish Cemetery. There are some impressive
rhododendron's there which were planted in the early 1800's. There's
some older Hemlock and white pine as well.

In Wilmington behind the town hall there is an interesting tract of
woods. If you take one of the deer trails there is a white pine with
one of the largest burls I have ever seen. Theres a few patches of wild
ginseng too but I won't give out the location. You can also harvest
cranberrys there in the fall. There are a few other tracts of forest in
town with some nice trees.

I'm sure you've been to Walden, but have you been to the Fairy Woods? I
could not begin to give you direction but you can get a map in Concord.
It's a wonderful place. I've only been there maybe 5 or 6 times but it
was worth it.

Breakheart in Saugus of all places is pretty okay. The tree's are not
super impressive but it is worth exploring.

Do you ever get out to Weymouth? Great Esker Park isn't tremendously
impressive tree wise BUT the herrings should be running at this point.
It's a cool thing to see. Plus the reverse falls are pretty neat.
Nothing like you'd see in Maine or New Brunswick, but cool none the
less.


Sky
RE: Sheldrick Forest Preserve West Wilton NH   Raymond Caron
  Apr 03, 2005 17:48 PDT 

Dear Sky

Thanks for your comments to my posting. I've never been to Fells, but
every thing I hear indicates I should. Today I drove to Ice Glen and
slipped and slided around on the ice. I was wishing I had my crampons.
I got fooled again by the weather here in the flatlands. Snow's all
gone here. I saw an extremely tall hardwood tree with slightly shaggy
bark that looked kind of like a sugar maple's bark but looked a bit too
tidy for that. It was on the trail that leads to Laura's Tower right
after the intersection with trail leading to Ice Glen. Have to come
back when leaves are on trees.

Great Esker Park also sounds interesting. Besides the sites you
mentioned, I love glacial geology and always love to see a good esker
especially a great one.

Ray
RE: Sheldrick Forest Preserve West Wilton NH   Robert Leverett
  Apr 04, 2005 07:25 PDT 

Ray:

   If the tree with the shaggy bark in Ice Glen was on the left side of
the trail (going up hill), it is a red maple. It is one of our showpiece
red maples that stands in stark contrast to what one typically sees in
high-graded woodlands where red maples are young, of poor form, and
often coppiced. I routinely measure the Ice Glen red maple. Its last
measurements are height = 114.4 ft, circumference = 8.5 ft.

   Many people do not realize that mature red maples develop a shaggy
bark. Sometimes old red maples are mistaken for shagbark hickories,
although the color is never the same. Mature red maple bark has a lot of
brown in it. Shagbarks are steel gray.

Bob