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Forest walks focus on ecology, sustainability

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Undaunted by a cold steady drizzle, diehard Tree ID walk participants pause to pose while searching for unusual trees on a recent Saturday. (MMRG photo)

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways recently offered the public two opportunities to enjoy a Saturday morning guided walk in the woods while learning more about our native trees and forests. These popular events, with about 30 participants each, were led by consulting forester Charlie Moreno, who manages the Milton forest lands of Branch Hill Farm (BHF), and by John Wallace and Charlie Tatham of the NH Big Tree Program.

Moreno discussed forestry techniques designed to create a healthy forest that enhances the value of the trees for timber while providing habitat for diverse animal species. He demonstrated how he identifies and flags trees to cut for either timber, pulp, or firewood and then showed log piles of the three types. He prefers to use a fairly light weight John Deere 440 skidder that is less likely to compact soils than newer heavier equipment. Moreno also led the group to several carefully planned timber cuts in order to show the seed trees, cover trees, wildlife trees, and multi age trees of various species that were left intact, while removing the invasive plants. A new trail along the Branch River demonstrated how a carefully managed forest preserves wildlife habitat. The group observed several vernal pools, a porcupine nest high in a tree with a pile of fresh droppings below, pileated woodpecker holes in a hardwood tree, and some beaver activity.

Wallace and Tatham showed participants how to identify various tree species as well as how to measure a tree for the NH Big Tree record. Ways to distinguish between white or yellow birch and black birch include the distinct 'wintergreen' scent and flavor of black birch twigs when they are snapped off. Black birch is useful a high value tree for firewood, containing more BTUs than oak. Red oak gets its name from the red color that frequently appears on the trunk between plates of the bark, but the coloration actually comes from a fungus that is symbiotic with red oak only. Not all red oak trees have this fungus so some trees are missing the red color but can be easily identified by their leaves during leaf season.

Wallace and Tatham also talked about how terrain and soil type affect the predominant trees species and forest types. They pointed out how a red pine can grow on an outcrop of ledge and how the edges of fields support a variety of healthy trees where light is more accessible. At the close of the walk, a smaller group of diehards continued to hunt out a few more trees, locating a rare balsam, witch-hazel, and a large but not record-breaking striped maple.

Branch Hill Farm/the Carl Siemon Charitable Trust co-sponsored the walk led by Charlie Moreno on Branch Hill Farm forest land in Milton and landowners Rodney and Judy Thompson graciously made their land open to the public for the Tree ID walk. MMRG thanks the business sponsors of these events, Jones Brook LLP and Norway Plains.

MMRG, a non-profit land trust, works to conserve and connect important water resources, farm and forest lands, wildlife habitats, and recreational land in Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro. Throughout the year, MMRG offers many educational opportunities to inform all ages about the benefits of our region's natural resources. For more information and a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.mmrg.info. Branch Hill Farm/the Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust works to protect open space and working forests and to educate the public about sound forestry, conservation and agricultural practices; see www.branchillfarm.org.

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