Mountain Views Our Donors News from Stowe Land Trust Fall/Winter 2020 New Directors
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In This Issue Caring for your Favorite Places Mountain Views Our Donors News from Stowe Land Trust Fall/Winter 2020 New Directors More than 250 volunteers from local businesses and schools and professionals have pulled thousands of non-native, invasive barberry plants at Cady Hill Forest since 2015 in an effort to restore native plant diversity to the property. CARING FOR YOUR FAVORITE PLACES: Protecting Forest & Human Health at Cady Hill By Kristen Sharpless, Executive Director On a walk around Cady Hill Forest in early October, I was Cady Hill Forest was purchased and conserved by Stowe Land delighted to encounter flocks of songbirds busily pecking Trust (SLT) in 2012, allowing for the expansion of the existing for insects, stunning fall colors on full display, and several 60-acre Macutchan Town Forest by 258 acres. Now owned by mountain bikers enjoying the leaf-carpeted trails. the Town of Stowe and best known for its world-class, multi-use and mountain biking trail network maintained by the Stowe But what was most striking was what was missing. Trails Partnership, Cady Hill Forest is still at its heart just that: The thousands of invasive, Japanese barberry plants that had a forest. During early monitoring visits and assessments, SLT carpeted portions of the forest several years ago were gone. staff noticed that an extensive infestation of Japanese barberry In their place were riots of white pine seedlings, thickets of covering about 36 acres was spreading from the powerline blackberry, and scattered native tree seedlings and other corridor that runs through the property into Cady Hill’s forest. plants. I found one lone, small, barberry plant along the Barberry is a non-native, invasive plant that looks pretty in Bridgey trail. It was a magical moment, and one I was not sure I landscaping around homes and businesses. But it wreaks would ever experience when we set out on an ambitious effort havoc when it escapes into natural areas, posing a threat to to get the barberry infestation on the property under control in forest health, wildlife, and human health and safety. 2015. continued on page 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Wilkens, Chair Samuel P. Gaines, Vice Chair Amy Stewart, Treasurer Letter from the Executive Director Meg Kauffman, Secretary Anna Black At Stowe Land Trust, we have been hearing from Clifford Borden you that during the COVID-19 pandemic, our Beth Bradford beautiful landscape, accessible trails, and local Chess Brownell farms have never been more essential to your Doren Dolan Stowe experience. How wonderful that while much Catherine Drake of our daily life is altered and constrained, nature Walter Frame remains open. Jesse Goldfine The pandemic is presenting us all with an Tom Jackman opportunity to feel how the land itself is part of Jess Laporte Mila Lonetto the community to which we belong – even if right Walt Looney now you are away and eagerly waiting for the time Jason McLean you can return. As more people than ever are getting outside, we are finding Darsey Moon a renewed appreciation for the gifts land gives us: fresh air, water and food; Ryan Percy inspiring vistas; a feeling of peace and hope amid turmoil and uncertainty; safe Kerry Sedutto places to exercise our bodies, calm our minds, and connect with our friends Jason Slocum and family; and a closeness to wild things that continue to move with the Thomas B. Sweet reassuring rhythm of the changing seasons. You have entrusted Stowe Land Trust with the responsibility of being an DIRECTORS EMERITI intelligent guardian and caretaker of your favorite conserved lands. We take Charles Berry this stewardship obligation seriously and can only meet it with the ongoing Trowbridge Elliman engagement and support from you – our community. Making a donation to John Merrill Stowe Land Trust, becoming a member, volunteering your time, recreating Alan Thorndike responsibly, learning how to treat the land with love and respect are all Gaetano Vicinelli essential investments we count on you to make part of your regular habits Roger Witten and routines. Thank you for doing so, and please invite others – especially newcomers – to join you. STAFF With gratitude, Kristen Sharpless, Executive Director Metzi Anderson, Operations Manager Elisabeth Fenn, Conservation Program Manager Kristen Sharpless Executive Director Stowe Land Trust is dedicated to the conservation of scenic, recreational, and productive farm and forest lands for the benefit of the greater Stowe community. Show Your Support! PO Box 284 Check out our online shop for new limited- Stowe, VT 05672 edition merchandise or some old favorites (802) 253-7221 available for curbside pickup or shipping! www.stowelandtrust.org These tees are available to order online and [email protected] feature a hand-drawn image of the iconic Grandview Farm in Stowe Hollow by local Join our email list by visiting designer Hannah Dreissigacker. This tee is www.stowelandtrust.org the definition of soft and will be a favor- ite for years to come! Available in ladies and mens sizes in heather grey and dark heather grey. Give us a call at (802) 253-7221 to order or visit www.stowelandtrust.org/ support/slt-shop. ©Tom Rogers ©Tom Page 2 Mountain Views ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Caring for Your! Favorite! Places ! ! ! continued ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Starting to chip away at the barberry ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! E ! ! ! ! Rt. 1 ! ! ag ! ! 0 ! l ! 8 e ! ! ! ! ! ! ! R ! i ! d ! g ! ! e ! ! L ! ! ! ! o ! ! o ! p ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! infestation in 2015 proved to be ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! fortuitous timing when a major ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! windstorm toppled nearly a third ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 0 ! ! ! ! ! 0 ! of Cady Hill Forest in October 2017. ! ! 1 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! . ! t ! ! ! ! ! ! H ! y il ! ! d l a R R ! ! ! ! C d ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! The openings created in the forest ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Bridgey ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Cady Hill Forest ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! canopy by the windstorm brought ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Zog's ! ! ! ! ! ! more sunlight to the forest floor and ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! would have given the barberry an even ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! greater leg up. Instead, treated and ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! s ! ! ' ! ! e i l ! r ! re-treated areas are now sprouting ! a ! h ! ! ! C ! ! ! ! ! ! ! native white pine, red maple, and ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! American beech seedlings that ! ! ! Invasive Japanese barberry is often spread ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! will be the next generation of Cady ! ! ! by birds who are attracted to the bright, red ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Hill’s forest – one that we hope will ! Trails ! Flo ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! berries. ! ! ! ! CHF Property Boundary ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Snake ! Barberry Infestation ! ! be diverse and resilient to ongoing ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Powerline Corridor ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Flame Weeding Sites ! ! ! ! ! ! Birds and other animals eat barberry’s! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! stresses and impacts from forest pests ! ! ! ! ! Barberry Treatment Area ! ! ! ! ! ! Fall 2015 bright red berries, carrying the seeds ! Fall 2017 and pathogens, climate change, deer ! ! Summer 2017 ! ! Summer 2018 into shrublands and forests. Once ! ! ! browse, intensive recreational use ! Summer 2019 established, barberry can multiply and Summer 2020 and more. And one that will be less Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, Intermap, INCREMENT P, NRCan, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri Korea, Esri (Thailand), NGCC, (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User spread through seeds and stem and Community hospitable to deer ticks, reducing the Japanese Barberry Treatment Map Map created by Elisabeth Fenn Stowe Land Trust Cady Hill Forest [email protected] | 802.253.7221 root sprouts, quickly colonizing an Property of Town of Stowe www.stowelandtrust.org risk of trail users being exposed to Map of the barberry infestation and treated Date: 9/25/2020 Data: Town of Stowe, Stowe Land Trust, State of Vermont area. It can grow so thickly in woodlands Easement Area: 258 acres Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. It areas at Cady HillFeet 1:3, 50Forest.0 THIS MAP IS NOT A SURVEY that few native plants survive. Barberry 0 460 920 is a beautiful sight to behold. infestations can also lead to increases in rates of Lyme disease. Ticks like to hang out on the tips of Despite our successes so far, the work of controlling barberry shrubs, waiting for mammals to pass by. Mice populations and promoting native plant diversity and forest health at Cady — an alternate host for Lyme disease — thrive in the thorny Hill is far from over. Keeping the barberry from re-establishing Barberry stands. from seeds spread from mature plants remaining in the powerline corridor and those still in landscaping around town In 2015, Stowe Land Trust and the Stowe Conservation will be an ongoing challenge. Ideally, we will find a feasible Commission, which