August 25 Meet-up
Join us to survey at Cold Spring. This beautiful site is of both ecological and historical importance. A hemlock grove covers the property protecting Cold Spring, the source of downtown Williamstown’s water from 1847 all the way up to the 1960s. There are no formal trails at the site so we will be entirely off-trail. The section close to the road is relatively flat but there are steep sections with quartize cliffs towards the back of the property.
What to bring: Long sleeves and pants recommended for tick safety – we will be walking along a field to enter the forest. Sturdy hiking boots – some areas will be a bit wet. Insect repellent for mosquitoes, deer flies and ticks. We will be out for 2 hours so we recommend bringing water and a snack, if needed.
Directions: Drive south on Route 7 from Field Park (the roundabout) for about 1.3 miles. The spring is across from the northern end of Sheep Hill.
Parking. To park, pull off the highway onto the grassy mowed area of the property — on the left-hand side of the road (headed south). Overflow parking is available in the Mass Wildlife pullout farther down the road. Please be careful walking along or crossing Rt. 7 if you use this option!
Please check the weather before arriving and bring appropriate clothing (warm, non-cotton layers). If you have a smartphone, please download the iNaturalist app before arriving and create an account. A loupe (magnifying glass) will be useful for identification – we have extras!
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Help us monitor the health of our Eastern Hemlock forests!
Eastern hemlocks are a vital part of our landscape but are under threat from pests like Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). Join Williamstown Rural Lands as we survey hemlock health on local public properties. No experience necessary – we will provide training to join the project.
Learn to:
- Identify Eastern Hemlocks and about their role in the ecosystem
- Identify common Eastern Hemlock pests
- Survey for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid to join this regional monitoring initiative!
For more information, check out the New York State Hemlock Initiative who are extending their reach into Massachusetts with us!
The Williamstown Hemlock Monitoring Group will meet monthly to train new volunteers and monitor properties together along with having optional independent monitoring assignments. There will be a break between end of April and beginning of June to avoiding dispersing Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.
For questions, email programs@rurallands.org.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.