During the week ofApril 27 – May 3, the Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, in coordination with the UVM Extension, the U.S. Forest Service, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, USDA APHIS, and many dedicated volunteers, will host a series of events that celebrate the valuable contributions that ash trees make to Vermont’s environment and economy, and to the quality of life of Vermonters. Ash Tree Awareness week will kick off on Sunday April 27th, with guided nature walks in nearly every Vermont county. The walks are scheduled to take place throughout the day, and in addition to celebrating ash trees are meant to raise awareness about the non-native Emerald Ash Borer. (EAB)
Vermont is home to more than 160,000,000 ash trees that reside in our forests, shade our lawns and beautify our town commons. Birds such as the bullfinch, woodcock, and nuthatch enjoy the seeds of ash trees, while red headed and pileated woodpeckers, owls and wood ducks nest in ash cavities. Ash wood is very dense, tough and strong, but also elastic – diversifying its many uses. The ash is used extensively to make bows, baskets, tool handles, baseball bats, hockey sticks, furniture veneer, traditional snowshoes and dog sleds and other wood products that require resilience.
In 2002, a shiny green insect about ½ inch long, known as the Emerald Ash Borer, was discovered in Michigan where it has since killed more than 30 million trees. Originating from Asia, these insects have spread eastward most likely due to the sale and transportation of firewood, and infested nursery stock. Although it has not yet been found in the state of Vermont, infected trees have been found in the bordering states of New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and in the province of Quebec. The Emerald Ash Borer has killed tens of millions of trees in 15 states across the US.
The “Celebrate Ash Awareness” nature walks will provide participants with the opportunity to view areas inhabited by ash trees, ranging from forested areas on the Green Mountain National Forest and Vermont State Parks to town greens. Participants will learn how to identify ash trees, become more aware of the impacts of Emerald Ash Borer and its significance to our ash trees in Vermont. The public is encouraged to participate in one of the nature walks listed below – there is no cost and no pre-registration is necessary.
CELEBRATE ASH AWARENESS NATURE WALKS LISTED BY COUNTY:
County:
Leader:
Time:
Location:
Contact:
Addison
Michael Burbank, Green Mountain National Forest Forester
10:00am-12:00pm
Widow’s Clearing trailhead parking lot on the Goshen-Ripton Road
Bennington
Kyle Mason, Bennington County Forester
10:00am-12:00pm
Emerald Lake State Park. Park and meet at the maintenance shop near park entrance.
Caledonia
Neil Monteith (FPR Forester) and Andrea Kane (North Star Monthly reporter
1:00pm-3:00pm
Peacham town library
Chittenden
Keith Thompson, Chittenden County Forester
10:00am-12:00pm
Lake Iroquois Boat Launch, 24 Beebe Lane, Williston
Essex
Jeremy Goetz, US Fish & Wildlife Service Forester
10:00am-12:00pm
Parking lot on west side of Nulhegan River at the intersection of Route 105 and Stone Dam Road
Franklin
Nancy Patch, Franklin and Grand Isle County Forester
10:00am-12:00pm
Aldis Hill City Forest, St. Albans City, Hardack Parking Lot entrance at the corner of Congress Street and Rt. 104
Grand Isle
Ashley Brisson, Grand Isle State Park Ranger
10:00am-12:00pm
Grand Isle State Park office
Lamoille
Ray Toolan
10:00am-12:00pm
Beaver Meadow parking area in Morristown
Orange
Val Stori
10:00am-12:00pm
FX Shea Forest in Corinth
Orleans
Jared Nunery, Orleans County Forester, and Sam Perron, NorthWoods Stewardship Center Forester
12:30pm-4:30pm
NorthWoods Stewardship Center, 154 Leadership Drive, East Charleston
Rutland
Thomas Ketcham, Green Mountain National Forest Forester
10:00am-12:00pm
Pine Hill Park/Giorgetti Arena complex on Oak Street Extension via Preville Avenue off Crescent Street in Rutland. Park in Giorgetti Arena parking lot and gather on the lawn on the east side of the parking area
802-767-4261 ext. 528
Windham
Bob DeSiervo, Townshend Tree Warden and Bob Everingham, First Detector
10:00am-12:00pm
Public parking area in downtown Brattleboro
802-365-7179
Windsor
Lisa Fisher, Quechee State Park Ranger
10:00am-12:00pm
Quechee State Park Office
802-295-2990
A list of additional events taking place throughout the state of Vermont in conjunction with Ash Tree Awareness Week can be found at:http://www.vtinvasives.org/ashawarenessweek