Skip to main content

Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests

Get our e-news! Sign up

small nav

  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Staff
    • Board of Trustees
    • Our History
    • Employment
    • Conservation Center
    • FAQs
    • Partners
    • Business Members
    • Annual Reports
    • Bylaws
    • Policies
  • log in
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Main menu

  • What we do
    • Land Conservation
    • Education & Events
    • Advocacy
    • Forestry & Recreation
    • News & Features
    • Forest Notes & More Publications
  • Current Projects
    • Mahoosuc Highlands, Shelburne
    • Forest Society North at The Rocks Campaign
    • Build Creek Farm Restrooms, Portsmouth
    • Mount Major Stewardship Fund
    • Recent Accomplishments
  • Visit & Explore
    • The Rocks
    • Conservation Center
    • Mount Major
    • Creek Farm
    • Forest Reservation Guide
    • Visitor Use Guidelines
  • Get Involved
    • Upcoming Events
    • Membership/Renewal
    • Support Our Work
    • Volunteer
    • Subscribe to E-news
  • Search

Search form

Donate
Menu

News

  • Forestry Field Trip to Learn More About Beech Leaf Disease

    Steven Junkin
    May 19, 2023

    Forest Society Foresters Wendy, Steve and Gabe all recently attended a field visit to Bear Brook State Park to see the beech leaf disease outbreak ...

  • Forestry Friday: Why Bees Need Forests Too

    Gabe Roxby
    April 7, 2023

    A new study estimates that one-third of our native bees in the northeast are forest specialists, taking advantage of the nectar and pollen produced by trees and spring ephemerals in the forest understory.

  • 2023 Tree Farmer of the Year: Colleen O'Neill

    Rita Carroll
    April 5, 2023

    Langwood Tree Farm has participated in the N.H. Tree Farm program since 1979

Tree Farm Field Day: Colorful Autumn Tradition

Outstanding Tree Farm 2022 Winners Ann and Marc Davis hosted Tree Farm Field Day in Wilmot
Dave Anderson
October 3, 2022
Forestry
Working Forests
colorful hikers, fall foliage along shore of Morrill Marsh pond, Wilmot
Colorful foliage at Morrill Wetland as participants tour the Otter Point Loop Trail at Ann and Marc Davis's Tree Farm in Springfield and Wilmot on October 1. (Photo: Dave Anderson)

Tree Farm Field Day at Woods Without Gile
Tree Farm Field Day, October 1, 2022
"The Outstanding NH Tree Farm" designation for 2022 was awarded to Ann and Marc Davis whose 500-acre "Woods Without Gile" property hosted the Annual Tree Farm Field Day on October 1, 2022

Woods Without Gile shares nearly 2.5 miles of boundary with the 6,725 acre John F. Gile Memorial State Forest. In 2007, Ann and Marc placed a conservation easement on 470 acres of their property in Springfield and Wilmot with the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust. They plan to protect an additional 30 acres they purchased in 2016 with a conservation easement in future.  They welcome the public to hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, hunt and fish at the property.

Ann and Marc are enthusiastic Tree Farmers. Their property is managed for forest products with an emphasis on diversifying wildlife habitat opportunities and re-opening views and protecting water quality of the Meeting House Brook. Ann writes: "much of the trail network and all of the views are the result of timber harvests in 2004, '07, '10 and '16."

They hired mowing contractors using a "brontosaurus" to mow and maintain openings for wildlife in 2010, 2021 and 2022.

At Tree Farm Field Day, Ann hosted a wildlife tour along the "Otter Point Loop Trail" from the main timber landing, named in honor of forester, John O'Brien and along a mowed trail to Meetinghouse Brook and an overlook over Morrill Pond, a five acre area of open water created by a beaver dam impoundment within the 50-acre wetland complex. The Davises named the marsh for the last residents, the Morrill Family, who had lived and farmed on the property until 1930. UNH Forestry Educator Dode Gladders and Wildlife Specialist Matt Tarr helped to interpret forest and wildlife features along the route.

Hikers at Tree Farm field day in colorful clothing amid bright autumn foliage
Wildlife Tour at Woods Without Gile during Tree Farm Field Day

Marc Davis hosted a tour from the landing to visit the site of an historic sugarhouse  ruins and the Morrill Family farm cellar along the Fowlertown Road. The Woods Without Gile has eight historic sites, part of the remants of historic "Fowlertown" where Ann Davis writes "Hardscrabble hill farmers had lived from the early 1800's until 1930 when the last residents, the Morrill family, moved to Danbury, NH."  At the former Morrill farm site, a mowed meadow with half left fallow for pollinators offers views north to Fogg Hill, Ragged Mountain and Eagle's Nest. The view east includes the summit of Mt. Kearsarge.

Kyle Lombard, State Forest Health Specialist with the NH Division of Forests and Lands led a walk to a protected white ash site and demonstrated pesticide treatment via injection of insecticides into a white ash trunk to combat Emerald Ash Borers (EAB). Lombard discussed the long term potential for biocontrol of EAB via the introductoin of wasps which parasitize eggs or the larvae of EAB boring under the bark of Ash trees.

Emerald Ash Borer display on tailgate of pickup truck
EAB information

The day's events included a traditional pig roast or roasted chicken lunch, awards ceremony and remarks by Ann and Marc and some of the 4 sponsors of the NH Tree Farm Program, which include The Forest Society, NH Timberland Owners Association, UNH Cooperative Extension, and the Society of American Foresters Granite State Division. 

Congratulations to Ann and Marc Davis, the NH Outstanding Tree Farm Award recipients for 2022!

Tree Farmers Ann (orange) and Mark (hat) Davis
Ann and Marc Davis.

 

Download the Forest Society Mobile App, powered by OuterSpatial

Available on the App Store
Get it on Google Play

Footer menu

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests54 Portsmouth St.Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.224.9945Fax: 603.228.0423info@forestsociety.org
Land Trust Alliance accreditation logo