Forest Health Walk Debuts at Cowassock Woods
We talk a lot about healthy forests at SVT, but what makes a forest "healthy"?
Healthy forests have an assortment of habitats that support a variety of native wildlife. They have trees of various species, heights, and ages. They have shrubs. They have water resources.
We invite you to learn how to assess the health of a forest by taking the Forest Health Walk at Cowassock Woods and the Ashland Town Forest.
During this enjoyable 90-minute walk, you'll learn about the importance of species diversity, vernal pools, and even dead wood. Plus, you'll also see signs of threats to the land's health, such as invasive plants, insect pests, and deer overbrowse.
Installed by SVT and the Ashland Town Forest Committee, the Forest Health Walk consists of 14 stops along a trail that wends through woods, over streams, and alongside rock formations. At each stop, you can scan a QR code with a mobile device to listen to an audio narration or read a text description of the important forest features that surround you.
You'll gain a new appreciation for forests and how they support our native wildlife. This is one time when you won't want to leave the cellphone in the car!