UVLT Receives 301-Acre Gift of Britton Property | | Parcel is adjacent to over 1,000 acres of protected lands. | | |
Britton Timberlands, LLC (Doug and Katharine Britton) has generously gifted to the Upper Valley Land Trust a very significant 301-acre parcel in Newbury, VT, ensuring that the parcel will be preserved and protected forever.
The Britton Property is on Bowen Road, adjacent to the UVLT-owned and managed 120-acre Woodchuck Mountain Conservation Area. It greatly enhances the conservation area by adding road frontage, trails, and forest and wetland connectivity. The properties will be managed together for forestry, conservation, and public recreation purposes. The Britton Property is also adjacent to the 288-acre Olsen-Long Pond conservation easement, protected by UVLT, and the 636-acre Tucker Mountain Newbury Town Forest, protected by the Vermont Land Trust.
Acquiring the Britton Property was a longtime priority for UVLT. In fact, Jeanie McIntyre’s discussions with the Brittons began a decade ago. Both parties were eager to proceed after UVLT completed work to add the Woodchuck Mountain property earlier this year.
“We thank the Brittons for their foresight in protecting this property,” says Peg Merrens, vice president for conservation. “The public will forever be able to enjoy this scenic open space that also maintains native species biodiversity, healthy natural communities, and water quality.”
| | Naturalist and Outdoor Program Leader Holly Henderson shares science and her fascination with these remarkable insects. | | |
There's something about monarch butterflies, isn't there? Whenever I see one, I’m compelled to stop and stare. Perhaps it’s their stunning colors, the way they flap and soar like a hawk, or how something so fragile can withstand a 2,000+ mile journey to its overwintering grounds. Whatever “it” is, it also captivated those who joined me in a recent tagging event during peak migration season.
UVLT celebrated 40 years of conserving land in the Upper Valley this June by hosting a gathering at Ely Mountain Conservation Area in Thetford, VT, involving nature walks, music, lively conversation, and strawberry shortcake. Prior to the event, we mowed the area’s large field and the young, tender shoots of milkweed that resprouted there in July made an ideal location for female monarchs to lay their eggs. After counting more than 50 caterpillars in August, I decided this would be an excellent site to host a tagging event.
On a sunny afternoon in mid-September, a dozen people joined me at Ely Mountain to capture and tag monarchs. Before we set off, I explained the life history of monarchs and how tagging helps scientists and conservationists track migration routes, study survival rates, and understand how environmental changes could affect populations.
| | Visiting the Smith Pond Shaker Forest Conservation Area | |
UVLT staff and trustees enjoyed a glorious fall hike recently at our Smith Pond Shaker Forest Conservation Area in Enfield, NH. Our “Field Notes Friday” weekly video series invites you to come along as we explored this marvelous site during peak foliage and perfect weather conditions.
See Upcoming Events below for details on an October 24 hike of this fascinating site. Some of its unique history and features include:
- over 6,000 acres of continuous forestland, including the Henry Laramie Wildlife Management Area, Smith Pond, and the Lower Shaker Wildlife Management Area
- the system of dams, canals and reservoirs built by the Shakers to bring water to their mill and community.
- two waterfalls (Big Dog Falls and Little Dog Falls)
- two DaVinci self-supporting bridges (Our YouTube channel has a video of the bridge building.)
- and of course, the 72-acre Smith Pond and its resident loon family.
Sign up and have Field Notes Friday sent to your email inbox each week!
| Community Engagement Coordinator Lizzie Hastings is doing a great job sharing UVLT’s message and mission at various Upper Valley venues. Recent events include the semi-annual Paddle the Border gathering of watercraft along the Connecticut River and at the 21st Annual Pumpkin Festival at the Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center in East Thetford, VT. | Or tell a friend! UVLT is a great place to work for talented people who care about the Upper Valley and want to make a difference. UVLT is now accepting applications for two key positions: our next president, and senior conservation project manager. | | |
Cottonstone Mountain Hike
Sunday, October 18, 9 a.m.-Noon
Join the Orford Conservation Commission, partnering with the Upper Valley Land Trust, to hike the iconic Cottonstone Mountain in Orford, NH. We will hike in from Cottonstone’s scenic Northside forest roads to the ridgeline that rises above Route 10 and the Connecticut River for sweeping views up and down the river valley.
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Hike Smith Pond Shaker Forest with Enfield Shaker Museum
Saturday, October 24, 9 a.m.-Noon
UVLT’s Smith Pond Shaker Forest Conservation Area consists of 995 acres of forest and wetlands in Enfield, NH, located between two State Wildlife Management Areas. The three properties combine to provide thousands of acres of significant wildlife habitat. The property boasts two waterfalls and numerous articles from Shaker history including spillways, dams, canals, and stone walls, and the beautiful Smith Pond.
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Forest Management Walk
Sunday, October 25, 2-3 p.m.
UVLT will host a forest management walk with forester Tii McLane, Verse River Logging, and landowners to look at a recent timber harvest on Cossingham Road Farm in Norwich, VT. These trails have been a beloved community resource for many years, so those involved in this effort would like to share the rationale for this harvest from an ecological perspective. The walk will be followed by optional volunteer time to help clean up the community trails for re-opening. No registration is necessary.
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Upper Valley Women Speak: Why We Hunt Where
Wednesday, October 28, 4-5:30 p.m.
Howe Library, Hanover, NH, and via Zoom
Four women hunters, including UVLT’s Vice President for Conservation Peg Merrens, will discuss the several reasons they hunt deer each fall. This event will help us understand why hunting deer is important from an ecological perspective and the vital role women play in the hunting world.
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Noticing Nature: Introduction to Nature Journaling
Sunday, November 1, 10 a.m.-Noon
Pohl Conservation Area, Hartland, VT
Join UVLT and County Forester Hannah Dallas for a beginner‑friendly Introduction to Nature Journaling workshop. We’ll explore simple ways to observe the natural world, especially forests, and make simple drawings and notes to foster curiosity and exploration. No art skills or journaling background are needed. All supplies will be provided for the day including a simple journal, pencils, watercolor paints, and brushes.
| | We know you love the Upper Valley. We do too. | | | | |
