June Field Trips at The Fells & Hay Forest Reservation
Field Trips Series: The Natural and Cultural Land Use History of Sunset Hill
Afternoon/Evenings / Wednesdays, June 3, 17 & 24. Field trips begin at 4 p.m. meeting at The Fells Gate House. Cost $5 Members / $10 Non-members.
Each year, the Forest Society teams up with The Fells Historic Estate and Gardens to offer a series of fun and educational natural history field trips at the Forest Society’s C.L. Hay Forest Reservation in Newbury. This year’s theme is “The Natural and Cultural Land Use History of Sunset Hill.” Programs begin at The Fells Gatehouse, 456 Route 103A, Newbury.
Each outing costs $5 for members of the Forest Society or The Fells, and $10 for non-members.
To register, call The Fells at 603-763-4789, ext. 6.
Sunset Hill Hike. Readings from the works of naturalist John Hay
Wednesday, June 3, 4-7 p.m.
Join us for a special evening hike and see how forests have reclaimed stonewall-bound, former sheep pastures and hay fields. Learn the history of land use on the upper slopes of Sunset Hill. Enjoy views of Lake Sunapee from the summit. Naturalist Dave Anderson will read from works of the late naturalist John Hay, who explored Sunset Hill as a boy spending summers at the Hay family’s summer home, The Fells. 2-mile hike.
Old Farm Road Trail to Beech Brook’s Hidden Beaver Ponds
Wednesday, June 17, 4-6 p.m.
The “Old Farm Road Trail” accesses a wetland complex created by a series of beaver dams. What are the important wildlife and waterfowl habitats, species present and forest features of this remote, interior portion of the Forest Society’s Hay Forest Reservation? Come find out on this 1.75-mile hike.
The Lost Farms of Sunset Hill
Wednesday, June 24, 4-6 p.m.
U. S. Secretary of State John Milton Hay acquired seven tracts of farmlands to assemble his summer home on Lake Sunapee. Today several historic cellar holes remain from the 19th-Century family farms that predate The Fells. This hike will share some of the acquisition history, local family names and N.H. agricultural census farm production statistics for the hill farms of Sunset Hill. This 2.5-mile hike includes some off-trail exploring.
REGISTER TODAY with The Fells program registration office in Newbury by calling Mary Lou at 603-763-4789 extension 6 or via email at mlmccrave@thefells.org to reserve your space or to receive a registration form by mail.