Photos courtesy of Somerville family.

The Upper Valley’s skiing history includes ski areas large and small – and some very small. In the late 1960’s, Brookmead Farm, in Norwich, was the site of a homegrown, backyard operation. Farmer Dale Somerville rigged up a rope tow in his hillside pasture that gave many hours of pleasure to children and adults. If you remember skiing or tobogganing through these fields now owned and conserved by UVLT-- please contact us to share your stories!

Wild in the Winter

Our wildlife camera captured these coyotes passing along information at Lyme Hill Conservation Area. We’ll be hearing them soon at night, because mid-winter is mating season for eastern coyotes. Listen for more yipping and howling at night and look for tracks along field edges and woods roads and in forests. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has found that coyote family groups have an average home range size of 15 square miles, but will focus most of their activity within a smaller core area of 5 to 10 square miles. Click to watch video.

When Land Changes Hands

Amidst the many challenges facing agriculture is this: it is projected that at least one-third of this nation’s agricultural lands (over 300 million acres) will change hands in the next decades. The Upper Valley Land trust has joined a nationwide effort to encourage succession planning among farm families, help a new generation of farmers access land, and keep our best farmland intact, healthy, and productive. UVLT is a recipient of a four-year grant through the Land Transfer Navigators Program, led in partnership by the American Farmland Trust (AFT) with support from the USDA National Resources Conservation Service. This program’s purpose is to develop and share land transfer and land access educational and outreach resources. UVLT has 40 years of experience working with Upper Valley farmers to ensure their fertile lands remain available forever. To fulfill that promise, we need both the land and the farmers. If you are a farmer looking for resources to assist with succession planning, or a landowner who owns open land that you'd like to see put back into active production, or a new farmer seeking access to land, reach out to Jason Berard at jason.berard@uvlt.org.

Upper Valley Wildlife Tracking

**Second Event Just Added - February 8, 2025**

UVLT is excited to co-sponsor an upcoming wildlife tracking event with the Upper Valley Food Coop at Brookmead Conservation Area. The event will be led by the nationally acclaimed Fox Paw School's certified tracking specialist and instructor, Jonathan Shapiro!

**While the initial event featured above on January 25th is at capacity (waitlist available), we’re thrilled to offer a second chance to participate on February 8th. Register now by emailing info@uppervalleyfood.coop or calling (802) 295-5804-— space is limited, and spots are filling up fast!

Engage with the Land in All Seasons!

Join us for one of UVLT's upcoming winter events and connect with nature, build community, and experience conservation in action. Whether you're a nature enthusiast or a conservation supporter, there's something for everyone!

Upcoming opportunities include:

• February 8 - Partner Event: The Fox Paw Tracking Club Workshop
• February 8 - Partner Event: Hartland Winter Trails Tiki Trek
• February 22 - Stonehouse Mountain Winter Hike with the Orford Conservation Commission
• March 12 & 15 - UVLT Volunteer Easement Training

We Know You Love the Upper Valley. We Do Too.

Become a part of the conservation solution and DONATE and/or VOLUNTEER today!