Ashley Outings Details

The Alliance for Vermont Communities and the Vermont Center for Ecostudies are partnering to bring you a series of natural history and historical outings on the proposed Ashley Community Forest located in Strafford and Sharon. The goal of the series is to get local residents of the two towns and the region actively using the Ashley Community Forest land in order to build an ecological understanding and appreciation for the extraordinary place it is.

The workshops generally take place on Saturday mornings unless noted as Sunday.  Each hike will be approximately 2.5 hours and led by a local expert.

Saturday, September 21, Mosses

with Mike Hebb and Alan Strickland

9:00-11:30 AM 

We will be focusing on bryophytes in particular mosses with additional attention to liverworts, ferns and fungi. Outing participants will find a hand lens very helpful.

Directions will be provided upon signup.  Space is limited. To register, please contact Michael Sacca at mfsacca@gmail.com   802.889.3210. Please wear appropriate footwear, tick prevention (light colored clothing, long sleeves. The hike will be through some hilly terrain.

Mike Hebb is responsible for developing a 20 mile trail system in his hometown of Strafford where he also plays a large part in managing the towns public lands. Mike teaches woodworking and orchard care in Strafford. He is currently concentrating on bryophyte identification. 

Alan Strickland of Enfield Center New Hampshire is responsible for laying out many of the trails around Smith Pond for UVLT as well as trails for the town of Enfield. Together, Mike and Alan have been studying Bryology, especially local mosses for several years and enjoy sharing their enthusiasm with others.

 

Saturday September 28, Bedrock Geology of the Ashley Community Forest

with Peter and Thelma Thompson

9:00-11:30 AM

Join us to on an introduction to the rock units exposed on the property in the context of Vermont geology, and some speculation as to the bedrock’s influence on soils, flora, and human activity such as the foundations and stone walls found in the Ashley Community Forest.

Directions will be provided upon signup.  Space is limited. To register, please contact Michael Sacca at mfsacca@gmail.com   802.889.3210. Please wear appropriate footwear, tick prevention (light colored clothing, long sleeves. The hike will be through some hilly terrain.

Peter Thompson is a Vermont native who taught geology at Cornell College, Iowa, for 15 years and at UNH for 15 years.  Thelma Barton Thompson taught geology labs at Cornell and later served as maps librarian at UNH.   The two met at UVM in the early ’70s and together spent many summers mapping bedrock in the northern Green Mountains.  Peter was among the editors for the 2011 Bedrock Geological Map of Vermont.  In their retirement they enjoy gardening, hiking, playing recorder music, and dancing.

 

Saturday, October 5, Trees

with Paul Harwood

9:00-11:30 AM

Please join us on what we hope will be a beautiful, early October morning on the Ashley Community Forest in Strafford and Sharon. Paul Harwood, Forester will help you identify woody plants and trees as they transition from their Summer greens to their Fall brilliance.  This is perhaps the most glorious time of year to be in our New England woods!

Directions will be provided upon signup.  Space is limited. To register, please contact Michael Sacca at mfsacca@gmail.com   802.889.3210. Please wear appropriate footwear, tick prevention (light colored clothing, long sleeves. The hike will be through some hilly terrain. Bring a field guides to trees if you own a copy, but it is not essential.

Paul Harwood, recently retired Forestry Consultant, has worked in the Orange County area for over 35 years. He was previously the Orange County Forester and Lecturer/Researcher at UVM School of Forestry where he taught Dendrology and Small Woodlot Management. He lives in Tunbridge.

 

Saturday, October 12, Cellar Holes & Stone Walls

with Paul Kristensen

9:00-11:30 AM

Join Paul Kristensen in an exploration of the well-preserved stone remains of a farmstead located in the Ashley Community Forest. Using the abundant evidence of walls, foundations and other stonework, participants will gain insight as to how and why the structures were built.

Directions will be provided upon signup.  Space is limited. To register, please contact Michael Sacca at mfsacca@sover.net  – 802.889.3210. Please wear appropriate footwear, tick prevention (light colored clothing, long sleeves. The hike will be through some hilly terrain.

Paul Kristensen is a resident of Sharon. He has a love for old farm and house sites that provide glimpses into how the owners lived and worked the land.

 

 

Sunday, October 13, Fall Mushrooms

with Peter Brooke and Ray Sehnal

9:00-11:30 AM

Join us for a walk in the woods to look for and share knowledge of fall mushrooms and polypores. The walk leaders are amateur enthusiasts who enjoy learning and sharing information on mushrooms observed throughout the year. We welcome all those interested in an adventurous walk, lively conversations and a love for mushrooms.

Directions will be provided upon signup.  Space is limited. To register, please contact Michael Sacca at mfsacca@gmail.com –  802.889.3210. Please wear appropriate footwear, tick prevention (light colored clothing, long sleeves. The hike will be through some hilly terrain.

Peter Brooke is a painter of American landscapes ­– a subject he has singularly pursued for over 15 years. He is the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Delaware Council of the Arts and other foundations. His work is represented by galleries in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. Peter is chair of the board of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies in Norwich. He is a resident of Pomfret.

Ray Sehnal is a cabinet maker, carpenter, outdoorsman, and an enthusiastic naturalist. He is a resident of South Pomfret.