Henry’s Grove Woods Walk

The Forest Stewards Guild,  Mass. SAF,  & East Quabbin Land Trust will hold a Henry’s Grove Woods Walk at EQLT’s Henry’s Grove Woods  on Lombard Road in Hubbardston, MA on September 24^th from 9:30 am to 2 pm EDT.

This 94-acre site has a rich history of forest management, evolving from a private woodlot to its current stewardship by EQLT. Over the last five years, the land trust has protected an additional 250 acres of adjoining land, conducted a commercial timber harvest on 55 acres, and developed an interpretive trail network, parking area, and kiosk.

At each stop along the skid trails, we’ll discuss practical methods for balancing recreational hiking while ensuring successful tree regeneration through marking design, skid trail layout, and equipment use. We’ll review the results of three timber sales from 1990 to 2020, visit white pine release sites and patch clearcuts, and share insights on what’s working, what’s challenging, and what remains to be figured out at Henry’s Grove.

Together, we’ll dig into questions such as:

• How should temperamental seed years affect timber management decisions?

• What should we be doing in our diseased beech stands?

• In what ways can well-laid skid trails protect your advanced regeneration?

• Can a tree be too old to release?

• How can public messaging and outreach build trust as part of timber sale planning?

Join us for a lively, in-the-woods conversation where we’ll share experiences, compare approaches, and learn from the forest and from one another.

This out-and-back tour will include a stop at a scenic overlook, where we’ll enjoy brown-bag lunches and casual networking along the East Branch of the Ware River.

This in-person event is limited to 25 attendees, so register quickly to secure your spot! Registration is free, please bring a brown-bag lunch and water.

Presenters:

Broad Arrow Forestry:

• Roger Plourde, Forester

East Quabbin Land Trust:

• Cynthia Henshaw, Executive Director

Massachusetts’ Department of Conservation and Recreation:

• Douglas Hutcheson, Forester, South Quabbin

• Jacob Seidel, Service Forester, District Five

This event is a collaboration between the Forest Stewards Guild, the Massachusetts chapter of the Society of American Foresters, and the East Quabbin Land Trust.