DUMMERSTON-The Green Mountain Conservancy (GMC) will be holding an official trail opening at Canoe Brooke Nature Preserve on Saturday, Sept. 20 (rain date: Sept. 21). The celebration is free. Cider, doughnuts, and apples will be offered as refreshments at the trail head.
A guided hike begins at 10 a.m., starting at the Nature Preserve sign on Canoe Brook Road. The hike will be led by Roger Haydock, local geology enthusiast and GMC board member.
All are invited to check out the new trail and learn about the ecology, geology, and history of the preserve The trail is generally kid- and elder-friendly, and an easy hike for people who may have difficulty walking. The hike, 1/2 mile in and 1/2 mile out, will be about an hour long.
The Canoe Brook Preserve has many interesting natural features and highlights. Roughly a half-mile of Canoe Brook crosses through the preserve. This pristine brook rises on the shoulder of Putney Mountain about three miles northwest of the preserve and flows into the Connecticut River about a mile to the southeast.
Also noteworthy are a dozen or more massive, ancient white oak trees, which date from the 1700s or early 1800s, when immigrants from Europe first colonized the area. These trees, including Vermont's second-largest white oak specimen, grew in the open initially, when most of the land in Dummerston was cleared for farming or pasturing sheep and other livestock. Stone walls and foundations can be found on the property, remnants of the various activities through the centuries.
An overgrowth of vinca near the house site and Canoe Brook Road, planted long ago, has been admired by people who drive, bicycle, and walk on this section of road, according to organizers. They note this section of the road is not maintained in winter.
"This property was donated to GMC by descendants of the original settlers," the group said in a news release. "More and more people who own land that they care deeply about, like the former owners of this property, are choosing to forego the financial benefits of selling their property for development, and instead, donating it to a nonprofit land trust like GMC." They say donations such as these provide ongoing protection, preservation, and benefit to the local community.
Those interested in donating property for conservation, or in making a contribution to this important work, contact GMC at greenmountainconservancy@gmail.com, 802-257-0012, or visit greenmountainconservancy.org.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.