MLT offers two June hikes

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Find out where this trail in the newest Middlebury Land Trust acquisition leads. Join land trust members for a walk there following their June 5 annual meeting. Details below. (Janine Sullivan-Wiley photo)

By JANINE SULLIVAN-WILEY

June is a wonderful month for so many reasons: graduations, weddings … and two hiking opportunities with the Middlebury Land Trust (MLT). The first, today, June 2, is a National Trails Day hike along the Foote Path trail guided by Wayne Foote. Details on that hike were provided in the May print issue and also can be found online here.

The second hike – a walk really – will follow the MLT annual meeting Tuesday, June 5, at 5:30 p.m. in the Larkin Room at the Middlebury Public Library. This is a great time to learn more about the MLT and its work over the past year. If you’ve been considering joining the MLT as a member, it is the perfect opportunity – you can join right then.

Following the meeting, MLT members and interested guests will proceed across from the library for a short guided walk in what will be the public debut of the newest acquisition of the MLT. This as-yet-unnamed property was a gift from an anonymous donor, and the roughly seven acres of rocky (isn’t most everything in this part of the state?) forested land consists of wooded wetlands with a small, unnamed brook.

Access is through a deeded right of way across a parcel of town-owned land, with an old trail – very rough at this time – that runs along the eastern slope with a view of a prominent bedrock outcropping known as “Fox’s Den.” There also is an old loop trail through the wooded wetlands over two boardwalk sections that are not yet safe to cross.

The property will benefit from the ministrations of two Eagle Scout projects. One is currently underway with Jason Von Culin of Troop 11. His project includes marking and clearing the trail, removing some of the invasive plants, and clearing fallen trees. A second Eagle Scout project, to rebuild the wooden walkway making that section safer, is under consideration. Happily, some of these Scout-led improvements will be done in time for members of the public to enjoy part of the trail after the annual meeting.

Even now, the preserve is suitable for bird-watching and nature study. Upland trees include hardwoods such as oaks mixed with red and sugar maple, black birch, American beech, and the sadly dead and dying white ash trees. The understory includes ironwood and striped maple trees and native shrubs such as witch hazel, spicebush and mountain laurel, with grasses and ferns. In the wetland areas you can find red maple, yellow birch and tulip tree with an understory of winterberry, witch hazel, speckled alder and high bush blueberry, with ferns and wetland sedges.

On recent walks in the preserve, MLT members noted wildflowers such as Mayapples, wild geranium, Canada mayflower, Solomon’s seal and false hellebore. Sadly, you also will find two invasives, Japanese barberry and winged euonymus. Having so many native species (despite the invasive Japanese barberry and euonymus) means the area is able to support our native insects and birds.

The Middlebury Land Trust – your land trust – hopes you will join them for the annual meeting and walk through the new preserve. Light refreshments for the meeting and DEET spray for the walk will be provided.