Honorable Mention

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The following abbreviated descriptions are of medium size forest blocks that were not visited by The Natural Communities (TNC) staff in 1999, but deserve mention for their ecological and landscape value. They either contain significant biodiversity values (i.e. wetlands), or are lands with the potential for linking or expanding current conservation lands.

Appalachian Trail

Forest block size

  • 713 acres

Ecological features

  • This forest block contains highly diverse forest types, wetland complexes, large open agricultural fields, and the western-most reservoir in the Hanover Waterworks network.

Potential protection strategies

  • Connecting the northern edge of the Appalachian Trail corridor with the Hanover Waterworks land would increase forest interior and protect wetlands and buffer forest area for the reservoir.

Ferson Road

Forest block size

  • 678 acres

Ecological features

  • This medium-sized block contains mostly deciduous forest cover with open fields along roadsides, and a diverse wetland complex that flows west to the Connecticut River. The wetlands originate at the height of land near the Three-Mile Wetland Site, just at the watershed break. A secondary wetlands complex also flows across Two Mile Road and into the Huntington Hill WMA.

Potential protection strategies

  • Protecting land in this block would expand on the Huntington Hill WMA land, and form a closer connection with the Appalachian Trial corridor to the south

Hayes Hill

Forest block size

  • 522 acres

Ecological features

  • Mostly deciduous woods, with some open lands and in the along roadsides.

Potential protection strategies

  • Fragmentation is already occurring in this block. Wetlands draining south through the middle of this block should be evaluated.

Blueberry Hill

Forest block size

  • 532 acres

Ecological features

  • Mostly deciduous woods, with some open lands in the northwest corner. Steep forest slopes and wetlands along Ruddsboro Road may contain significant features.

Potential protection strategies

  • Fragmentation is already occurring in this block. Expansion of the King Conservation Easement (northwest corner) to the east to connect with the Karl Conservation Easement would help expand protected land adjacent to the southwestern slopes of Moose Mountain