On Sunday, September 8th, about 50 people joined “old growth expert” Bob Leverett of Holyoke on a guided tour of the Bryant Homestead’s old growth forest and Great White Pine stand. The event was sponsored by the Hilltown Land Trust and the Highland Communities Initiative.
During the walk along the Rivulet Trail, Bob, co-author of the Sierra Club Guide to Ancient Forests of the Northeast, pointed out the different stages of forest growth, spoke about the characteristics of old growth forests, and explained why the White Pine Stand at the Bryant Homestead is unique.
Currently, old growth forests on private lands are not protected, but Bob emphasized the need to preserve all old growth stands because they offer a rare opportunity to study forest growth and genetic diversity, past and present.
