Spreading Fall Trail Magic | | Chris Gothberg, Bob Hedges, William Parocai and Kei Vickers enjoy the newly cleared southern lookout at Stonehouse Mountain | | |
In mid-October, a crew of staff and volunteers went out to remove some blowdowns across the trail at Stonehouse Mountain and to clear the south-facing lookout. The highlight of the outing was running into a solo hiker and her dog on their way down as the group was heading up to start their workday. Here's what she had to say when they greeted her:
“Thank you for what you are doing out here today. Without any doubt,
this hike is my favorite hike in the Upper Valley. It is downright magical. I know it is through the efforts of people like you that I get to enjoy this place.”
We agree that the hike is magical—and it's because of you, our supporters, that we are able to do the work to keep it clear and accessible to our community. Thank you, as always, for your support.
| | Our 2025 Annual Report is now available, and it's a testament to the remarkable things we can achieve when we work together to protect the land we all love. Read it for conservation stories, stats, and more! | | |
UVLT Launches Native Tree Nursery Project | | Alexander van Engelen, Dan Jones from ACF, Cassie Bernyk, and UVLT volunteer Lisa Solbert-Sheldon planting chestnuts at the Brookmead Garden. | | On a recent crisp fall day, UVLT took a significant step in our habitat restoration efforts by potting over 50 pure American chestnut seeds at the Brookmead Conservation Area in Norwich, VT, with help from volunteers and the NH/VT chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation. These seedlings will be transplanted in the spring on UVLT properties as part of a new native tree conservation nursery initiative. | | |
Smith Pond Bog Bridge Replacement: A Full-Circle Moment |
| Last month, 13 Hypertherm employees joined our Stewardship team for a volunteer workday at Smith Pond Shaker Forest Conservation Area. Together, they carried materials, cut boards, and assembled more than 20 brand-new bog bridges, ensuring feet stay dry and happy and sensitive wet areas aren’t trampled. Several of the volunteers installed the original bridges in 2018, and a grant from the Hypertherm HOPE Foundation funded the supplies. | | |
Pumpkin Picking at Old Town Farm | | Fall is always a busy season for farmers across the Upper Valley, and in Pomfret, VT, Neil and Alice Lamson are no exception. Each year, the Lamsons grow a beautiful crop of pumpkins in a field they lease from UVLT. But in recent years, harvesting the pumpkins had become a major undertaking — and UVLT's amazing volunteers and community members came together to lend a hand. With teamwork, laughter, and a bit of extra muscle from Neil’s oxen, the entire field was cleared in just two hours on a sunny Saturday — a task that once took days. | | |
Martin's Brook Farm Avigation Easement |
| Jason Berard, VP of Stewardship, recently visited one of UVLT's newer conservation properties called Martin's Brook in Lebanon, NH, located just south of the Lebanon Airport. In collaboration with the airport, we've added an 'avigation easement' on 5 acres of the property near one of the runways to ensure airspace is kept safe and clear and that tree cutting does not harm wetlands, rare plants, and other conservation values. The avigation easement allows the airport to manage the trees in this area that may be encroaching into the safe airspace either currently or within the next ten years. | | |
Trip Report: Cottonstone Mountain Hike | In partnership with the Orford Conservation Commission, UVLT led a group of 36 hikers up Cottonstone Mountain for the second year in a row. This time, we made a side visit to the soapstone quarry on the property. One hiker remarked that he has been waiting to see this quarry for 45 years, as he believes that the mantles on the fireplaces in his early 1800s Orford home came from this quarry! Many thanks to UVLT landowner Heidi Wilson for permitting special access for this once-a-year tradition. We’re already planning next year’s hike. | Want to help us spread the word about UVLT's conservation work? Apply now to join us as our Marketing Communications Director! This part-time position will lead content creation, curation, and management of UVLT’s social media presence, as well as print and digital communications. | | Wetlands and Forests Bird Walk with Upper Valley Land Trust and Audubon Vermont
Saturday, November 8, 8-10 a.m.
It’s sparrow season! Join Holly Henderson of the Upper Valley Land Trust and Fen Levy-O’Malley of Audubon Vermont for a wetland and forest-focused bird walk at Lyme Hill Conservation Area, in Lyme, NH. We’ll start with a visit to the wetlands at the outlet of Grant Brook on the hunt for little brown birds and fall waterfowl. Then, we’ll continue onto the forest trails to learn about UVLT’s conservation work in the Connecticut River Valley and Audubon Vermont’s landowner programs, as well as management techniques to enhance forest bird habitat. Please register as parking is limited. | | We Know You Love the Upper Valley. We Do Too. | | | | |
