Last week one crew worked at Welch and cleared a new trail moving part of Carol and Polly’s Trail to higher ground. They also worked on improving the stone steps crossing the stone wall at the end of the field. Another crew worked at Hershman’s Hollow and cleared a large stand of Japanese Knotweed and other invasive plants at the entrance, opening up a view of the stone wall and making the hidden entrance very visible.
This week we are going to work on the trails which will be part of the next hike on September 7. We will meet at the entrance to Whispering Pines at 30 Briar Road and clear the Whispering Pines Trail, the Falling Water Trail, the Sisyphus Trail and along Atwater Road. Vital tools will be weed whackers, and along Atwater road, loppers where there is a lot of barberry and multifloral rose. And if there are enough weed whackers, we could also take on the Big Tree Trail at Bethany Farms. In addition we will be applying a bark drench to certain beech trees to help give them a boost and survive the beech leaf disease. I don’t think any chainsaws are needed, mostly weed whackers to cut down new growth on these new trails and widen them.
