Forest Society Blog - News & Features

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.

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.

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.

The Les Clark Nature Trail behind our Conservation Center in Concord is open again! After several weeks of upgrades, the quarter-mile path now meets federal accessibility standards with a smoother surface, new benches overlooking Mill Brook and the Merrimack River, and a small turnaround near the river kiosk.

The Forest Society has expanded the conserved landscape in the Belknap Range to 1,050 acres. The newly protected ridgeline and headwater forests—made possible with support from state and local conservation partners—will safeguard wildlife habitat, views, and local drinking water.

A record night for the Black Mountain Banding Station! Fifteen Northern Saw-whet Owls were banded and released during a recent field trip, offering participants a rare look at this small, fierce nocturnal predator and the research that helps uncover its migration mysteries.