Clearing work has begun on the two once-and-future fields adjacent to the brook.  A second pass will be done on these fields in the spring to grind the stumps, which are currently buried in deep snow, down to ground level.  The clearing will benefit the native trees that we have left, including the big sugar maple tree shown below, and the restored fields will eventually attract birds, such as woodcock, that need open areas for their mating rituals.

After completion of these two fields, the clearing work will move uphill to some other portions of our land.

The brontosaurus machine arrived today, and will begin land clearing work tomorrow, Jan. 8.  Our contractor is Faun Koplovsky, owner of Land and Mowing Solutions.  Faun has many years of experience doing wildlife habitat restoration projects, similar to this one, all over New England.  We are delighted to have his help with this project!

​See other recent blog posts below for discussion of the background and goals of this project.

We are planning a wildlife habitat restoration project on the Eastern portion of the property, beginning January 7, 2019.  The goals are:

1. To restore and improve habitat for birds and other wildlife, following recommendations from an Audubon Vermont study of this property.  (See previous blog post on this topic.)
2. To reduce invasive shrubs (especially Glossy Buckthorn; see photos below), which are rampant in the areas to be cut
3. To open up views from many of the walking trails

The work will be done by a hired contractor with a "brontosaurus" machine, which chews up the trees and shrubs and distributes wood chips in a layer that will decompose and enrich the soil.