FLT Annual Meeting june 12th
Old-Growth Forests: Why They Matter and How to Protect Them
THE FRANCESTOWN LAND TRUST will hold its Annual Meeting at 6:30PM on Thursday, June 12th. Please join us for refreshments and conversation at 6:00PM before the start of the brief business meeting and presentation. Our featured speaker will be Sarah RobbGrieco, Northeast Regional Manager for the Old-Growth Forest Network.
Old-growth forests have been standing for hundreds of years, they show us everything a forest can be. They contain rich biodiversity, support rare species, filter water and air, and are the best carbon-capture technology our planet has to offer.
The Old-Growth Forest Network is the only national network in the U.S. of protected, old-growth, native forests. With a B.A. in Biology from Vassar College and over 15 years’ experience in nonprofit leadership, Sarah RobbGrieco helps people preserve, protect and promote the remaining old-growth forests of New England.
Come learn about old-growth forests, how to recognize them and why they are important. We’ll hear about how the national Old-Growth Forest Network protects and promotes these special places in New Hampshire.
Not a FLT member but want to hear Sarah’s presentation?
Come join us….and enjoy light refreshments!
Upcoming programs and events
Lessons in the Forest
Lessons in the Forest
Lessons in the Forest
On Saturday, May 17, from 9:30 to noon, there will be a wildflower hike in the Crotched Mountain Town Forest. The hike will be led by Linda Kunhardt, amateur botanist, who will share her knowledge about wildflowers. Because of its rich and diverse habitat, this part of the forest is a treasure trove of wildflowers from spring through early fall. Spring wildflowers and flowering shrubs that have been seen on this trail in past years include bunchberry, fringed polygala, Indian cucumber root, lady slippers, painted trillium, sweet woodruff, starflowers, trailing arbutus, violets and hobblebush.
The 3½ mile hike will be of moderate difficulty, including uneven footing, moderate hills, and a stream by a beaver dam, requiring climbing over rocks and logs. Hiking poles and waterproof footwear with good grips are recommended.
Registration helps us plan, so please register no later than Thursday May 15th by sending an email to info@francestownlandtrust.org . Title your email “Register for Wildflower Hike” and include your name, telephone number, and the number in your party. Registrants will receive emails with directions to trailhead and any updates. No dogs please.
For additional information, contact Elizabeth Hunter Lavallee (land line 603-547-6356). She would also like to hear from you if you are interested in a shorter and easier wildflower walk.
Exploring our Trails:
Lessons in the Forest
Lessons in the Forest
On Saturday, May 31, from 9:30 to noon, Scot Heath and Elizabeth Hunter Lavallee will lead a hike on Scot’s Trail which was the first named trail in the Crotched Mountain Town Forest. The blazing of this trail was started by Scot Heath in the early 1990s, when he was Chair of the Conservation Commission. After Scot left town, the trail was completed by Betsy Hardwick and other members of the Conservation Commission. They named it after him because of his many contributions to our town, including the beginning of the Crotched Mt Town Forest in 1989. He (of course!) eventually returned to town and it is a treat to have him be present to share his long-ago memories of starting both the Crotched Mountain Town Forest and this trail.
Scot’s Trail, including the link trail to access it from trailhead parking, is about a four-mile hike. It includes meandering forest sections, an open field, seasonal and other small streams, and a tranquil beaver pond. For the most part, the trail is easy hiking, with some hills and uneven footing. There are, however, a few streams which require some balancing on rocks and long steps, that are somewhat more difficult, especially if the spring rains are heavy. Hiking poles and waterproof footwear with good grips are recommended.
Registration helps us plan, so please register no later than Thursday May 29th by sending an email to info@francestownlandtrust.org . Title your email “Register for Scot’s Trail Hike” and include your name, telephone number, and the number in your party. Registrants will receive emails with directions to trailhead and any updates. No dogs please.
For additional information, contact either Elizabeth Hunter Lavallee (land line 547-6356) or Hannah Proctor (land line 547-2816).
This is just the beginning of another full year of great hikes and other programs! Flyers will be posted around town, and when time allows, we’ll publicize them in The Francestown News. You can request to receive email updates on programs, by using the same email address listed above for registration.
Enjoying More Special Places in 2025
Elizabeth Hunter Lavallee and Hannah Proctor
The Francestown Land Trust (FLT) and Conservation Commission (FCC) often work together to protect our town’s natural resources. The transformative effects of nature can be powerful, and we want the Special Places we treasure to be here for future generations to enjoy.
For the past two years, FLT and FCC have collaborated to produce monthly pieces in The Francestown News, to highlight these Special Places and why they matter. This year we’ll be collaborating again, to offer a new educational series, “Lessons in the Forest” that will be set in many of these Special Places. Topics under consideration include identifying trees, winter wildlife signs, vernal pools, and wildflowers. Yet another possible topic is historic back roads, cellar holes, and mills. If you miss a program, you’ll have a chance to read about it afterwards in The Francestown News and on the FLT website. Most if not all “Lessons in the Forest” will be held on Saturday mornings. Timing of topics will be weather and conditions dependent, and likely to not have enough lead time to be announced in the Francestown News. You can count on programs being posted as Flyers about town (Post Office, Town Office, Library and kiosk outside the library). You can also ask to be added to an email list for notification at info@francestownlandtrust.org. Title your email “Requesting notification about programs” and include your name, email address, and telephone number. Please also indicate if there are particular topics of interest to you.
Exploring our Trails: Speaking of Special Places, last year we offered an opportunity for folks to get to know many of the trails on conserved land in Francestown. Participation in these “Exploring our Trails” hikes ranged from 13 hearty folks for the Crotched Mt Summit climb, to over 20 hikers for others. We also held two “Exploring our Trails - Slow and Steady” hikes for folks who wanted to relax and enjoy nature with shorter and slower-paced hikes. Given the enthusiastic response to all of them, we plan to continue the “Exploring our Trails” program in 2025, with at least four hikes throughout the year. We’re adding a new twist to the hikes, where trails will start in Francestown but continue “Beyond our Borders” into Bennington, Deering, Greenfield, and Weare. We’ll also offer a couple more “Slow and Steady” hikes. Stay tuned for more information on all of them! As with the educational series, we’ll use the new email list to let you know about the hikes. We’ll also post Flyers around Town and announce hikes in The Francestown News when we have enough lead time to do so.
For those who are new to Francestown, or simply new to exploring the great outdoors, feel free to reach out to any of the FLT board or FCC commission members with your questions or requests. In addition to trail maps and other news, you can get this information on our two websites: francestownlandtrust.org and francestownnh.org/conservation-commission.
Conserving and enjoying our Special Places is part of a long-term plan to protect our community’s rural character and quality of life. It’s a new year and we can’t wait to get back to more Special Places with you! FLT and FCC already are planning a full moon hike and celebration on Saturday, January 11. The winter full moon hike is an annual tradition for us. There’s an ad with more information on that event in this issue.
Snowy forest path photo by Betsy Hardwick
NH Audubon Recognizes FLT Vice-Chair Betsy Hardwick
NH AUDUBON HAS presented its Tudor Richards Award to Betsy Hardwick of Francestown for “working tirelessly and effectively for conservation in the Granite State.” Betsy was recognized for championing the natural environment in New Hampshire through both conservation and environmental education.
Betsy is vice-chair of the Francestown Land Trust and has chaired the Francestown Conservation Commission (FCC) for 25 years. Among her notable accomplishments are the passage of a $1 million town conservation bond and driving the “2010 by 2010” campaign that resulted in conservation of 25% of the land in Francestown. She has also served on the New Hampshire Coverts Advisory Board and presented at the NH Association of Conservation Commissions’ annual training.
