From left, Nate Forgan (Forest Society intern, in hard hat), Ben Aldrich (Forest Society staff), Ralph Scarpino (volunteer and Greenfield resident), Dylan Summers (Forest Society staff), Paul Renaud (volunteer land steward for Gipson Forest and Greenfield resident), Matt Ferland (Forest Society intern), Nicole Nguyen (volunteer), Janet Renaud (volunteer land steward for Gipson Forest and Greenfield resident), Donovan Lombara (first kneeling on left, Forest Society intern), Fred Tobbe (volunteer)
By Jessica Timmons
Behind the Stephenson Memorial Library in Greenfield, a mysterious trail winds into the woods, hinting at adventure.
“It does look kind of look like a trail from a fairy tale,” said Library Director Ella Cademartori.
On June 27, 14 volunteers from the Society of the Preservation for NH Forests (Forest Society) worked all day to create the trail linking the lawn behind the library to the trails in the Emma Gipson Forest. The Emma Gipson Forest, which is accessible from Slip Road near the Greenfield Post Office, is managed by the Forest Society for sustainable forestry, productive wildlife habitat and other conservation benefits in support of the greater Greenfield community.
In 2023, the Forest Society was approached by former Library Director David Bridgewater and Andra Hall of the library trustees about the potential for connecting the trail system at the Gipson Forest to the library grounds.
“The goal is for community members who are using the library to be able to enjoy the trail system. The library can also provide a safe and easy parking for those wishing to access the trails,” Carrie Deegan of the Forest Society stated.
Read the full story at the Monadnock Ledger Transcript (subscription required).