Forest Society Blog - News & Features

Thanks to the generosity of more than 425 private donors, the Forest Society has conserved 230 acres of critical land at the summit of Mt. Kearsarge—some of the last remaining private inholdings within the state forest. This milestone protects high-elevation habitat and preserves the mountain’s scenic and ecological integrity for generations to come.

Winter in New Hampshire’s North Country invites quiet reflection — on snowy trails, forested ridgelines, and the sense of place shaped by generations of foresight and care. The landscapes we enjoy today exist because people came together to protect forests and open spaces, a legacy that continues to support wellbeing, recreation, and connection year-round.

On February 6, 2026, the Forest Society celebrates 125 years of caring for New Hampshire’s forests—and we’re marking the occasion in a place deeply rooted in our history. Forest Society members are invited to join us for Forest Society Ski Day at Mount Sunapee, with $35 lift tickets available exclusively to members.

Early winter in New Hampshire can feel stark and still, with short days, bitter winds, and frozen ground. Yet even in this quiet, the first signs of spring stir: a rose-pink dawn, a chickadee’s song, and the promise of golden maple sap waiting in the sugarhouse.

The Forest Society conserved a 193-acre easement on Morrill Farm Dairy’s main property in Penacook, protecting working farmland, natural habitats, and more than a mile of Merrimack River frontage.

Seeing moths in the cold? They’re likely Bruce spanworm moths—a native species adapted to fly in chilly late fall, emerging after most insect-eating birds have left.

The Forest Society received three LCHIP grants as part of a $3.5 million statewide investment in land conservation and historic preservation announced by Governor Kelly Ayotte. Together, the grants will help conserve nearly 1,800 acres in Madbury, Nelson, and Springfield—protecting forests, wildlife habitat, and vital water resources across New Hampshire.

Dave reflects on how a childhood discovery—a bird’s nest hidden in a Christmas tree—sparked a lasting connection to nature, memory, and place. From suburban New Jersey to New Hampshire forests, it celebrates the quiet power of early encounters with the natural world.