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Forestry Committee

    Public Forest Walk on 2/24/08

      We got everyone together for a group picture before setting out on our forest walk on Sunday, February 24, 2008.

    2011 - Curt Springer - Chairman
    2011 - Chris Lauria
    2009 - Andy Ward
    2010 - Elisabeth Sanders
    2010 - Vacant

    CELEBRATE EARTH DAY

    April is a grand month of activities! To celebrate Earth Day, the Danville Forestry Committee is hosting an educational day for the public to learn about the Danville Town Forest on Sunday, April, 20, 2008 at 10:00 am at the Hawke Conservation Area parking lot. There will be free information and exhibits about forests and wildlife. Some refreshments will be available for your enjoyment.

    Visitors are welcome to roam any of the forest walking paths to see the changing forest habitats as winter moves to spring’s warm and long days. The Great Blue Herons are back and nesting. Wild ducks have paired up for their own spring celebration. Salamanders are making their way to vernal pools to carefully place their eggs. Wild flowers are preparing to show off their blossoms. Trees display their buds that will make the forest green again. Spring peepers are anxious to shout their call announcing spring. Each of the wildlife and plants celebrate Earth Day in their own way.

    There are four new “Habitat Stewardship Series” publications on the UNH Cooperative Extension’s webpage (http://extension.unh.edu/Forestry.htm) that are worth viewing and printing: Vernal Pools, Grasslands, Floodplain Forests, and Marsh & Shrub Wetlands. Learning about forest habitats creates a better understanding of the importance to responsibly manage our forests that are critical for wildlife, clean water, scenic views, fresh air, and recreation.

    Please come and join our special celebration! Bring your family and friends. For more information, call Betsy Sanders at 642-5070.

    WHO GOES THERE? -- DANVILLE TOWN FOREST WALK (February 24, 2008)

    DANVILLE – Want to find out? Gather your winter weather clothes, grab a camera, pack a snack or two and get ready to join the Danville Forestry Committee for a walk in the Town Forest on Sunday morning, February 24, 2008 at 10:00 am for a couple of hours to chase away any cabin fever that may be going around.

    Snow covered ground is a fun way to use your imagination to see wildlife in our forests. What appears to be only the black of leafless trees and the white of snow is really a picture of a world of walking animals, growing plants, and hibernating critters. The signs of life are everywhere for the careful observer.

    On the walk we will look for animal tracks and scat, nests and dens, woodpecker holes, winter food berries and other food sources. The inside of a beaver lodge can be 60 degrees warmer than outdoors. The skunk sometimes makes an appearance around Valentine’s Day. Wild turkeys become braver as food supplies are harder to find. Bird’s nest can easily been seen with some snow perched inside rather than little eggs. Blue jay’s are sharp lookouts and sometimes sounds an alarm. The small chickadee says “chick-a-dee-dee”. Beneath the ice, some aquatic plants are getting ready for spring. The buds on trees are waiting patiently for warm and sunny days. Snowshoe hares leave impressive tracks. Porcupines leave hemlock pieces beneath the shelter of a tree. Our four legged friends walk, trot, gallop, bound, hop and jump. There are deer, fox, mice, squirrels, coyote, raccoons, minks and birds.

    The walk starts on Sunday morning, February 24th at 10:00 am. Parking will be at the Hawke Conservation Area at 111A near the Old Meeting House. The trail leads through a winding path to Tucker Road and then follows Tucker Road for about a mile. The winter cold allows a hiker to cross the two or more flooded areas that are either not passable in the summer. There will be refreshments for those who want to linger awhile.

    Please contact Betsy Sanders at 642-5070 for more information. Oh yes, please bring your field guide too to help determine “who goes there?”

    CHILL OUT - DANVILLE TOWN FOREST WALK (January 20, 2008)

    DANVILLE –The Danville Forestry Committee is hosting a “Town Forest Chill Out Walk” on Sunday at 10:00 am on January 20, 2008. The open house is truly an open outdoor winter event. With snow packed down on the trail (hopefully), it is a relatively effortless path for young and old to follow on foot, snowshoes, or cross county skis. You will have an opportunity to see the changing landscape of hills, rocks, trees, plants, small streams, vernal pools, and some wildlife may even be visible. The living diversity of the forest will show off its winter attire.

    Some of the trees in our forest include the maple, oak, beech, birch, ash, sassafras, pine, spruce, and hemlock. Some of the wildlife in our forest include the white-tail deer, fox, fisher, raccoon, beaver, rabbit, chipmunk, squirrel, turkey, crow and perhaps even ruffed grouse.

    Everyone has seen trees. They are our largest plants. But do you know how to identify the tree you are looking at? Trees differ in shape, leaves, bark, flowers, and seeds. This time of year you can easily see the difference between “hardwoods” and “softwoods”. Can you identify some of the wildlife tracks you may find?

    A forest walk is a wonderful outdoor activity with family and friends. To enhance your outing, you will receive a free “Pocket Guide to N.H. Animal Tracks” provided by the N.H. Fish and Game Department and a map of our forest prepared by Charles A. Moreno, Danville’s Consulting Forester. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing and comfortable walking boots or snowshoes or cross-country skis. Also for your enjoyment, bring along a camera and binoculars and a snack and beverage. Some refreshments will be provided.

    The Danville Town Forest is located on Route 111A (Main Street). We will gather at the new parking area. Please come and enjoy an hour or two of Danville’s great public land and space of 423 acres of woods, wildlife and wetlands. For more information, please call Betsy Sanders at 642-5070.


    Announcements

    The New Parking Area was Dedicated on Sunday, October 22

    Sunday morning saw members of the Danville Brownie Girl Scout Troop 2178 come out for a dedication ceremony led by State Representative and Forestry Committee member Betsy Sanders.

    Print our Printable Trail Map.

    Parking Area Open for Public Use

    Our new parking area at the former "West" parcel, to be known as the Hawke Conservation Area, was approved by the Heritage Commission (as required by the historic district ordinance) on Wednesday, June 14. We received our highway entrance permit from the state on June 26. No more approvals are needed.

    We set the sign in concrete on Saturday, July 8. We also placed a small sign at the entrance to the parcel, and cleared brush for sight distance. That sign has since been replaced by a permanent sign that has attracted many favorable comments.



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