Topic: News

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways
Box 191, Union, NH  03887
603-473-2020
info@mmrg.info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 1/24/2019

Valentine Snowshoe Tracking for Families on Saturday, February 16

On Saturday, February 16, Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) and Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust will jointly offer a kids’ snowshoe walk as part of MMRG’s program of nature-oriented activities for families called ‘MOOSE-ies for Families’. The ‘Valentine Snowshoe Tracking’ activity, led by NH Coverts Project volunteers Emily Lord and Tom Gardner, will take place at Branch Hill Farm in Milton Mills.

Lord and Gardner have been active participants in developing MMRG’s ‘MOOSE-ies for Families’ program and led the first family snowshoe event last winter. Emily Lord is Digital Outreach manager at the Society for the Protection of NH Forests and a member of MMRG’s Board of Directors. In addition to serving as Pastor at Middleton Gospel Chapel, Tom Gardner teaches the Middleton Nature Club after-school program.

Last year, kids went sledding, tried out walking in snowshoes, listened for bird songs at the edge of the woods and crowded around the leaders as they pointed out signs of wildlife along a snowy trail leading down to the river. Anticipating the upcoming event, Pastor Tom says, “This family snowshoe walk is a chance to introduce kids to the animals that share our community and to show them how to read the signs and stories that wildlife leave behind.” Emily Lord adds, “The first MOOSE-ies for Families snowshoe tracking event was so much fun, we’re really looking forward to this one!”

The event is planned for 10 – 11:30 am and is appropriate for children of all ages with their families. Although ‘MOOSE-ies for Families’ activities are conceived as a membership benefit for MMRG member families, this Valentine Snowshoe Tracking event is free and open to all as a way to encourage new families to come try it out. Pre-registration is required. Kids-sized snowshoes from the Tuftonboro Public Library will be available as well as a few loaner snowshoes for adults. For more information, directions, and to pre-register, call MMRG’s Education Coordinator Kari Lygren at (603) 978-7125 or email info@mmrg.info.

‘MOOSE-ies for Families’ stands for Members Only Outdoor and Social Events for Families and the entire ‘MOOSE-ies for Families’ program is free for MMRG members. It is designed to create opportunities for families to have fun together outdoors while learning about nature, in order to foster future generations of conservationists. Interested families may become MMRG members with a minimum membership donation of $25 per household per year. Families may also inquire about available scholarships by calling MMRG Executive Director Patti Connaughton-Burns at (603) 473-2020. The program of 2019 events is: ‘Following a Stream’ on April 13 , ‘Rail Trail Discovery Walk’ on June 8,   the 16^th annual Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival on August 10, ‘Family New Moon Walk’ on September 22, ‘Bonfire, Music Games and Stories’ on October 25, and ‘Wreaths, Sprays and More’ on December 1 (some dates may be subject to change).

MMRG, a non-profit land trust, works to conserve and connect important water resources, farm and forest lands, wildlife habitats, and recreational land in Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro. Throughout the year, MMRG offers educational opportunities to inform all ages about the benefits of our region’s natural resources. For more information and a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.mmrg.info.  Branch Hill Farm/the Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust works to protect open space and working forests and to educate the public about sound forestry, conservation and agricultural practices; see www.branchillfarm.org. The NH Coverts Project with UNH Cooperative Extension trains volunteers in wildlife conservation, forest stewardship, and effective outreach; see extension.unh.edu/programs/nh-coverts-project.

Families looking at signs in the snow 2018

Sledding on hill 3

Looking at tracks 2018

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways
Box 191, Union, NH  03887
603-473-2020
info@mmrg.info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 11/15/2018

Workshops with Charlie Moreno: Sustainable Forestry for Logging and Woodworking

Two free forestry workshops offered by Branch Hill Farm (BHF) and Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) attracted a total of three dozen participants from as far away as Boston and Lexington, MA and Concord, Meredith, and Portsmouth, NH. They came to learn about sustainable forestry as it applies to timber harvesting and its connection to wood and woodworking. Consulting forester Charlie Moreno led the workshops on Branch Hill Farm’s sustainably managed forest lands in Milton and Milton Mills.

At each workshop, Branch Hill Farm owner and manager Cynthia Wyatt welcomed the group and described the guiding principles behind BHF’s forest management. “The type of demonstration-harvesting implemented on these conserved forestlands, under Charlie Moreno’s direction, fulfills our goal to sustainably manage these forests. For the trustees of our family lands, it’s not just about the income; it’s more about ensuring that there is a healthy variety of species and ages restored to an historically overcut forest.”  

The first workshop, ‘Logging Showcase,’ featured on-site demonstrations of three different methods of timber harvesting: cut to length, bio-mass, and micro-harvesting. Each method was discussed by Moreno, who explained, “My job is to carry out the vision of the landowner and hire the crew with harvesting techniques best-suited to the planned harvest.  You’ll see my blue paint on all trees to be taken — some saw logs and some low quality trees to be weeded out.  Wm. Day & Sons, Inc. has efficient state-of-the-art computerized logging equipment to carry out both cut-to-length and biomass techniques. They can sort and process the logs for their highest value as saw logs, pulpwood, chips, or firewood.  Independent logger Larry Hersom specializes in fine tuning or micro harvesting and timber stand improvement with a small skidder and custom-outfitted 4-wheeled vehicle.”

At the end of the workshop, attendee Chris Bancroft commented, “This was a great opportunity offered by Charlie and Cynthia.  It’s not often you see all the varieties of logging methodologies in one place, and can walk through and discuss the strengths of each.  It was a very informative session and I’ll be able to apply it to the management of our own wood lot in Wakefield.”

The purpose of the second forestry workshop, ‘Wood: From Forest to Workbench,’ was to make the connection between the wood that woodworkers love to use for woodworking and the forests it comes from. The forest venue of this workshop, BHF’s Branch River West, is sustainably managed to have a diversity of ages and species so it can be harvested every 15 years. Moreno pointed out different trees such as white pine, sugar maple, yellow birch, red oak and basswood, and compared milled planks of each type of wood, discussing the tree growth and woodworking characteristics of each. For example, clear pine boards having no knots are derived from trees without lower branches. When conditions are favorable, young white pines may grow in dense clusters, shooting up tall and shedding their side branches. When they become too crowded, a micro logging technique can be used to thin the stand without damaging the desirable trees intended for eventual harvest.

Much practical woodworking information was shared. Moreno’s associate, forester Nick Lanzer, showed the group how to estimate the number of board feet in a standing tree. Participants learned that the desirable woodworking wood called ‘tiger maple’, having decorative curly patterning rather than the usual straight grain of maple, is revealed only after the tree is cut and sawn. Attendees exchanged wood drying and storage techniques. Moreno also gave examples from his personal woodworking experience. He has built a number of different furniture pieces, including a bureau, out of wood from local local black cherry, another desirable woodworking species found in NH forests.

MMRG, a non-profit land trust, works to conserve and connect important water resources, farm and forest lands, wildlife habitats, and recreational land in Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro. Throughout the year, MMRG offers many educational opportunities to inform all ages about the benefits of our region’s natural resources. For more information and a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.mmrg.info.  Branch Hill Farm/the Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust works to protect open space and working forests and to educate the public about sound forestry, conservation and agricultural practices; see www.branchillfarm.org.

Logger Larry Hersom explains conventional and ‘micro’ harvesting

Charlie M explaining equipment used for biomass harvesting

charlie explaining tree growth rings (Kari)

charlie and woodworking group looking at planks

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways
Box 191, Union, NH  03887
603-473-2020
info@mmrg.info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 10/31/2018

Forestry Workshops with Charlie Moreno:

 Logging was Showcased; ‘Forest to Workbench’ Next

On a Friday afternoon in late October, Branch Hill Farm (BHF) and Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) welcomed sixteen participants to a Logging Showcase workshop on Branch Hill Farm’s 500-acre sustainably managed Salmon Falls Woodland in Milton Mills, NH. People came from as far away as Boston, Durham, and Alton for this unique opportunity to learn about four different methods of timber harvesting, with on-site demonstrations of each discussed by consulting forester Charlie Moreno.

Owner and manager of Branch Hill Farm Cynthia Wyatt welcomed the group and described the guiding principles behind BHF’s forest management. “The type of demonstration harvesting implemented on these conserved forestlands, under consulting forester Charlie Moreno’s direction, fulfills our goal to sustainably manage these forests. For the trustees of our family lands, it is not just about the income; it’s more about ensuring that there is a healthy variety of species and ages restored to an historically overcut forest.”  

Moreno, who manages over 30,000 acres of forests, including BHF’s Salmon Falls Woodland, presented a map of the 500-acre forest, color-coded to show locations within the forest for most appropriate use of each of the four different harvesting techniques: cut to length; bio-mass; conventional logging and micro-harvesting.  Moreno explained, “My job is to carry out the vision of the landowner and hire the best crew with harvesting techniques suited to the harvest.  You will see my blue paint on all the trees to be taken. Some are saw logs and some are low quality trees that need to be weeded out.  The crew of Wm. Day & Sons, Inc. are able to perform both cut-to-length and biomass techniques with efficient state-of-the-art computerized logging equipment.  Their crew has the expertise to sort and process the logs for the highest value, whether as saw logs, pulpwood, chips, or firewood.  Independent logger Larry Hersom specializes in fine tuning or micro harvesting and timber stand improvement with a small skidder and custom outfitted 4-wheeled vehicle.”

At the end of the workshop, attendee Chris Bancroft commented, “This was a great opportunity that Charlie and Cynthia had pulled together.  It is not often that you see all of the varieties of logging methodologies in one place, and are able to walk through each of them, discussing the strengths of each.  It was a very informative session, and I will be able to apply it to the management of our own wood lot in Wakefield.”

MMRG and Branch Hill Farm are following up with a second forestry workshop, ‘Wood: From Forest to Workbench,’ of interest to woodworkers and wood enthusiasts, to take place on Sunday, November 4,  from 9 am to noon in BHF’s Branch River West forest in Milton. Moreno’s goal is to make the connection between the wood that woodworkers love to use for woodworking and the forests it comes from. He’ll show the high quality timber that can come from the mixed-age Branch River West forest and will talk about the products and values that come from trees, the common tree species and their wood qualities for use in different projects, and the process of milling and drying your own wood.

The upcoming workshop is free and open to the public but pre-registration is required. For more information, directions, and to register, contact MMRG’s Education Coordinator Kari Lygren at (603) 978-7125 or email info@mmrg.info. Please do not bring pets to this event.

MMRG, a non-profit land trust, works to conserve and connect important water resources, farm and forest lands, wildlife habitats, and recreational land in Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro. Throughout the year, MMRG offers many educational opportunities to inform all ages about the benefits of our region’s natural resources. For more information and a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.mmrg.info.  Branch Hill Farm/the Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust works to protect open space and working forests and to educate the public about sound forestry, conservation and agricultural practices; see www.branchillfarm.org.

Forester Charlie Moreno gets input from William A Day Jr, and Sons, Inc. logger (Photo – Kari Lygren)

Logger Larry Hersom explains conventional and ‘micro’ harvesting (Photo – Kari Lygren)

Charlie M explaining equipment used for biomass harvesting (Photo – Kari Lygren)

Forester Charlie Moreno explaines the operation of a forwarder (Photo – Kari Lygren).

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways
Box 191, Union, NH  03887
603-473-2020
info@mmrg.info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 10/20/2017

Logging and Woodworking Workshops with Charlie Moreno

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) and Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust (BHF/CSFCT) will offer two free forestry workshops led by consulting forester Charlie Moreno. The first, ‘Logging Showcase’, is set for Friday, October 26, from 1 to 4 pm in Branch Hill Farm’s Salmon Falls Woodlands in Milton Mills. The second, ‘Wood: From Forest to Workbench’ will take place on Sunday, November 4,  from 9 am to noon in Branch Hill Farm’s Branch River West forest on Plummers Ridge in Milton.

Logging Showcase will be a unique outdoor workshop in which four forms of logging will be demonstrated on a sustainably managed forest.  Woodlot owners, students, conservationists and interested members of the public are invited to watch both high-tech and ‘micro’ equipment in action. Participants will gain understanding of the timber harvest practices they may observe in our local forests, and learn new possibilities for forest improvement.  

Brent Day, Wm. Day & Sons, Inc. will showcase in-progress cut-to-length and biomass harvest operations. Larry Hersom of Hersom Logging will show conventional logging and micro-harvesting techniques. Consulting forester Charlie Moreno will discuss the various timber harvest systems being demonstrated and the forestry principles associated with each. “What are the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of these four modes of timber harvesting?  For what situations is each type of logging best suited?  What equipment is used and what forest products are produced?  How can logging improve the forest?” Moreno will answer these questions and more, as the crews work.

The Sunday Forest to Workbench workshop will be of interest to woodworkers and wood enthusiasts. Moreno’s goal is to make the connection between the wood that woodworkers love to use for woodworking and the forests that it comes from, such as wood grown in the backyards or woodlots of NH and Maine. He’ll walk participants through the sustainably-managed Branch River West forest, showing the high quality timber that can come from this mixed-age forest and how it is being grown for the future. He’ll talk about the products and values that come from trees, the common tree species and their wood qualities for use in different projects, and the process of milling and drying your own wood.

As a consulting forester, Charlie Moreno manages over 30,000 acres of forests for private landowners, conservation organizations, and communities in southern New Hampshire and Maine, including the forests of Branch Hill that are the sites of these workshops. In addition, he is a long-term hobbyist woodworker, learning ‘everything he knows’ at the Homestead Woodworking School in Newmarket. Moreno wants to teach the Forest to Workbench workshop again this year, because, as he says, “Everyone had a blast last year! And as a forester, I love to connect woodworkers to trees and forest management.”

Both workshops are free and open to the public but pre-registration is required. For more information, directions, and to register, contact MMRG’s Education Coordinator Kari Lygren at (603) 978-7125 or email info@mmrg.info. Please do not bring pets to these events.

MMRG, a non-profit land trust, works to conserve and connect important water resources, farm and forest lands, wildlife habitats, and recreational land in Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro. Throughout the year, MMRG offers many educational opportunities to inform all ages about the benefits of our region’s natural resources. For more information and a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.mmrg.info.  Branch Hill Farm/the Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust works to protect open space and working forests and to educate the public about sound forestry, conservation and agricultural practices; see www.branchillfarm.org.

2016 logging workshop participants examine mechanical harvester head

Charlie Moreno talks to group at 2017 Forest to Workbench workshop

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways
Box 191, Union, NH  03887
(603) 473-2020
info@mmrg.info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date submitted:  August 3, 2018

Family-oriented Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival on Saturday, August 11

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways’ 16^th Annual Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival will take place on Saturday, August 11 from 10 am to 3 pm at Branch Hill Farm, 307 Applebee Road, Milton Mills, NH. This family-friendly celebration of the great outdoors provides children and adults an opportunity to enjoy, understand and appreciate the natural world, an essential part of MMRG’s goal to foster a conservation ethic in future generations.

The WWW Festival has an abundance of activities optimized for grandparents, parents and other family members to enjoy time outside with kids. For children, the emphasis is on having fun, exploring the outdoors and getting a close look at nature. Families get to watch and learn about rescued wild and barnyard animals or try fishing in the pond. Kids can take a discovery walk to find natural treasures in the woods, try out a logger’s crosscut saw, meet Smokey Bear, build a bee house for native pollinators, or swing on a rope swing in the woods. Families can also relax together on a hayride or while listening to Native American stories.

Learning opportunities targeted at adults include apple tree grafting and cider-making, beekeeping and collecting honey, low impact horse logging, using solar panels to generate electricity, landscaping for pollinators and wildlife, permaculture gardening and composting, tree identification, controlling invasive species, and more topics in forestry, agriculture, and sustainability. The live fiddle and guitar music is also a big attraction.

The festival takes place rain or shine. The cost is $5/person or $10/family and free to ages 12 and under; all events included; food concessions available. Rest rooms and most events are wheelchair accessible. No pets, please. For more information and a program of events, visit www.mmrg.info/festival.

MMRG is grateful to its festival underwriters, D.F. Richard Energy, the Siemon Company and Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust. Moose Mountains Regional Greenways is a non-profit land trust serving Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro (see www.mmrg.info). Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust is a private operating foundation (see www.branchhillfarm.org).

Bee house building 2017

Crosscut saw closeup concentration WWW 2016 (David O’Connor)

Family nature walk WWW 2017 (Kate Wilcox)

Girl concentrating on sawing (Dave O)

Girl dipping for wildlife in the Salmon Falls River at WWW 2017 (Emily Lord)

Crowds in seating area WWW 2015 (Kate Wilcox)

Girls painting their tree cookies WWW 2017 (Kate Wilcox)

Kestrel shown at Squam Lakes Wildlife Workshop WWW 2017 (Kate Wilcox)

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways
Box 191, Union, NH  03887
(603) 473-2020
info@mmrg.info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date submitted:  July 19, 2018

16^th Annual Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival Features Fun for the Whole Family                                                                                                                      

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways’ 16^th Annual Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival will take place on Saturday, August 11 from 10 am to 3 pm at Branch Hill Farm, 307 Applebee Road, Milton Mills, NH. This day-long celebration of the great outdoors regularly attracts more than 600 participants who make the most of this chance for families to have fun, explore and learn about the natural world together.

MMRG Education Coordinator Kari Lygren is excited about some new festival offerings this year. “I’m looking forward to hearing storyteller Anne Jennison, with her Native American tales of the natural world. And I can’t wait to sample some fresh local produce and pick up some recipes from Seacoast Eat Local! They also stock a bus full of information about local agriculture, the economy and the environment which will be part of our new Steps to Sustainability. Follow the carbon footprints to discover ways to reduce your impact on our local and global environments.”

The Festival offers many fun learning experiences for children. In Nature’s Playground, kids swing on a rope, jump between log stumps, climb on a treehouse, walk along a fallen log and find something new to play on each year. Children use a crosscut saw to cut a thin slice of a pine log, then decorate it in Tree Cookies/Kids’ Craft Corner.  Families test their observational skills to discover hidden treasures in the woods in the Kids Discover the Forest event. Build a Bee House provides materials and instruction for kids to make a house for native bees, using hollow plant stems, clay, and plant pots.

Animal and wildlife lovers have several opportunities to get up close and personal with a variety of creatures. Families observe and learn about rescued wildlife brought by Squam Lakes Natural Science Center; children use dip nets to look at creatures of the Salmon Falls River or borrow a pole and bait from NH Fish & Game to catch a fish from the farm pond. There are barnyard animals brought by 4H, Mitchell Logging draft horses to watch scooting logs, and animal pelts to touch in the Mountain Man’s Mansion.

Two different Hayrides run all day, giving everyone a choice and chance to ride. A Guided Family Forest Walk takes families on trails through the woods. The Permaculture Garden has meandering paths among raised beds of organic vegetables and is part of the Steps to Sustainability, as is Here Comes the Sun, a demonstration of solar panels by ReVision energy. Volunteers from the NH Farm Museum and local craftsmen and orchardists demonstrate traditional rural skills. The Moose Mountaineers will be back with their toe-tapping tunes on guitar and fiddle.

The festival takes place rain or shine. Homemade salads, desserts, hot grilled food, and cold smoothies will be on sale along with T-shirts and raffle baskets of local fresh produce and other items. Rest rooms and most events are wheelchair accessible. No pets, please. The cost is $5/person or $10/family and free to ages 12 and under and to MMRG members; all events are included in the admission price. For more information and a program of events, visit www.mmrg.info/festival.

Festival proceeds and business sponsorships support MMRG’s land conservation and educational outreach mission. MMRG is grateful to its festival underwriters, Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust, D. F. Richard Energy, and the Siemon Company, and would like to thank the following major sponsors:, the Hays-Dombrower Families, Norman Vetter Inc. Poured Foundations, Bruce and Jennifer Rich, S&S Plumbing and Heating LLC, Carl and Beth Ann Siemon, Hank and Junko Siemon, and the Wyatt Family.

Thanks also go to many more business, organizational, and individual sponsors and supporters and to the dedicated volunteers who have already signed up to help out. More volunteers are needed; please call Education Coordinator Kari Lygren at 603-978-7125 or email info@mmrg.info. Business sponsorships of festival events are still available; information is on a link from the festival webpage listed above.

Moose Mountains Regional Greenway is a non-profit land trust serving Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro (see www.mmrg.info). Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust is a private operating foundation (see www.branchhillfarm.org).

crowds in front of barn (David O’Connor)

Hayride (David O’Connor)

Acadia

Acadia

As part of Branch Hill Farm’s field management plan, we installed our first pollinator garden last year and have been enjoying the colorful blooms all spring.  We plan to install many more pollinator gardens along the edges of our fields to attract and sustain pollinators. Pollinators are critical in assisting 80% of the world’s flowering plants in their reproduction and include species of ants, bats, bees, beetles, birds, butterflies, flies, moths, and wasps.  Without pollinators to fertilize many of our fruits and vegetables, people and wildlife would not have much eat, and we would be deprived of the flowering plants’ beauty and fragrance.

Here are the tips we received from UNH Cooperative Extension to install a pollinator garden:  Cover a manageable area (18’ by 20’) with heavy duty black plastic in the early spring. (Save the plastic for your next garden.) The plastic kills the grass and the heat of the sun kills most of the seeds.  Remove the plastic in late September and rake up the dead grass and rough up the soil. UNHCE recommended using a mix of native perennial wildflowers and grasses. I planted ¼ lb. of the Bee Feed Mix from Johnny’s Selected Seeds and ¼ lb. of All Perennial Wildflower Seed Mix from Vermont Wildflower Farm and mixed them with ½ lb. of native grasses recommended by UNHCE.  After spreading the seed, we covered with straw mulch and watered when dry.

The picture is worth a thousand words. Visit Branch Hill Farm for the WWW Festival on August 11^th and learn firsthand from UNHCE professionals about pollinator gardens and many things pertaining to New England woods, wildlife and water.

Cynthia Wyatt

Manager of Branch Hill Farm and MMRG Board Member

UNH Cooperative Extension Forestry and Wildlife Program published this post to their Facebook page:

At our staff meeting last week, the Forestry & Wildlife staff visited Branch Hill Farm in Milton with Charlie Moreno, the forester for this piece of the property. Charlie told us that historically this site was heavily cut, and repeatedly. What he found when he started working on the property almost 10 years ago was a lack of diversity. Beech had overtaken much of the understory. He’s been working since to bring back more pine, oak and other species. Beech is great for wildlife, but more diversity of food options is better!

Charlie describes the property and the work that’s been done so far.

Some pine saplings were planted, while others have naturally regenerated.

Can you find all the foresters in this thicket of beech?

Charlie and a sugar maple

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways
Box 191, Union, NH 03887
603-473-2020
info@mmrg.info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 8, 2017

Paddlers invited to annual Branch River Paddle with Moose Mountains Regional Greenways on May 26

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) and Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust (BHF/CSFCT) are teaming up once again to offer canoe and kayak enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy a group paddle of the pristine Branch River in Milton Mills, NH. The event will take place 10 am – 2 pm on Saturday, May 26. It features a 4-mile scenic trip along the conserved banks of the Branch River to the upper end of Milton Three Ponds. Participants and their boats will be transported back to the launch site, where a picnic lunch by Chef Gracie will be provided.

Colin Lawson of Trout Unlimited (TU) will be this year’s guest presenter. Lawson has a Masters in Environmental Science from Antioch New England University and works as the New England Culvert Project Coordinator for TU. His focus is to reconnect Eastern brook trout habitat in priority New England watersheds through the retrofitting or removal of currently impassable road stream crossings and other instream barriers. At the Paddle, Lawson will talk about fish habitats and the process of reconnecting streams such as the Branch and Salmon Falls Rivers so fish can access upstream cold waters and places to spawn. He’ll also address the vulnerability of undersized dams and culverts during so-called ‘100-year’ storms and the consequences of the resulting floods.

Paddle stops along the way give paddlers a chance to learn more about and appreciate these environs. In particular, the lush wetland area near the confluence of the Branch and Salmon Falls Rivers is a prime birdwatching spot for riparian species. Paddlers are encouraged to bring binoculars to enjoy possible sightings of kingfishers, yellow warblers, Baltimore orioles, osprey and more.

Paddlers should bring their own kayaks or canoes and wear US Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices. Children should be 12 years or older and accompanied by an adult. This event is extremely popular and spaces are limited, so early registration is advised. All reservations must be made by the morning of Thursday, May 24; contact MMRG Education Coordinator Kari Lygren at 603-978-7125 or info@mmrg.info with your name, phone number, and the number of people who will attend. A $15 per person donation is suggested and may be made at the event or online at MMRG’s website, www.mmrg.info. There is no rain date and participants are requested to leave pets at home.

MMRG, a non-profit land trust, works to conserve and connect important water resources, farm and forest lands, wildlife habitats, and recreational land in Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro. Throughout the year, MMRG offers many educational opportunities to inform all ages about the benefits of our region’s natural resources. Branch Hill Farm/CSFCT is a private operating foundation whose mission is to conserve land, produce quality timber products, and educate people about sound forestry practices and conservation. For more information, visit www.branchhillfarm.org. MMRG would like to thank the business co-sponsor of this event, M&M Boat Storage in Wakefield.

Kate Wilcox Branch River-38

Colin Lawson

Jared Kane demonstrates grafting techniques to MMRG’s Grafting Workshop participants in the barn at Branch Hill Farm.(Kari Lygren)