“With over 3,100 acres of forests, wetlands and grasslands, Notchview—in the Berkshire County hilltown of Windsor—provides visitors with ample space to recreate, from winter cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, to spring wildflowers and summer hikes along miles of trails. The forest ecosystem that holds cherished memories for many also provides key environmental functions including wildlife habitat and biodiversity, healthy soils and water, and carbon sequestration.

Across Massachusetts, the habitat for many northern tree species is projected to decline as climate conditions become less suitable. Species like red spruce and balsam fir are expected to be most vulnerable, particularly in places like Notchview, which lie at the southernmost part of their natural range. Species like beech, hemlock, and ash are dealing with diseases and pests that put them at greater risk, too.

At Notchview, the team is working on active transformation of the forest ecosystem to build its resiliency across approximately 100 acres. The ongoing project led by the Natural Resources team seeks to proactively address the changing forest by deliberately introducing (native species) and regenerating species that are projected to adapt to new climate conditions in the region.

Red oak seedlings and acorns were collected from a variety of Trustees properties where the trees are dominant parts of the forest.  By sourcing from various properties in regions of the state already warmer than Windsor, the team will be able to observe if slight differences in the genetics of the red oaks across the region may make them successful with the current environmental conditions at Notchview. The seedlings have been growing at a local farm run by the Native Plant Trust to allow for several years of growth before being planted at Notchview. The young trees will be planted inside a structure called a slash wall, which will enclose approximately 12 acres.

Slash walls prevent deer and moose from eating the tree seedlings. “Slash” is a term that refers to material that’s left in the woods after timber harvesting, often remnants like treetops and branches. Over time the wall that is created around the seedlings will degrade naturally while the seedlings turn into trees outside of the reach of deer and moose.

Material to build the slash wall was harvested from approximately 25 acres within and surrounding the location of the slash wall at Notchview. The red oaks, which grow faster in forest openings without deep shade, will grow along with some residual trees within the slash wall. Outside of the wall, an additional 20 acres of forest was harvested to allow for additional oak planting, allowing for comparative monitoring of success of tree growth within and outside of the structure.”

-The Trustees, “Fostering Forest Resilience”