Woods Walk to highlight 50 years of Intensive Hardwood Management

Saturday, October 15

9 AM-12 PM

The walk will highlight the over 50 years of intensive hardwood management at Hawkes Tree Farm in Woodstock, owned and managed by Gerry Hawkes. He will lead the walk and share about the work that has transformed the property from being overstocked with low-quality trees to a healthier woodland with well-spaced, high-quality timber.

The event will take place rain or shine so attendees are encouraged to dress properly with good hiking shoes. Hawkes Tree Farm is located at 796 Wayside Road Extension in Woodstock. Since GPS is not always reliable in getting to the tree farm, here are detailed directions:

FROM WOODSTOCK: Take Route 12 North out of Woodstock. Set odometer at the iron-sided bridge on the edge of town. Go approximately 3.5 miles on Route 12. Turn left on Wayside Road, a gravel road that immediately crosses a small brook next to Route 12. Go past the former River Bend garden center in a green-roofed barn with greenhouses in the back. After about a mile, the town road will cross a dam on a pond. Keep going straight on Wayside Road Ext. Go approximately one mile up this road (do NOT turn right after the pond). Where the town road takes a sharp left, continue straight through a gap in the stone walls where #796 and Gerry Hawkes is on a mailbox. Pass the log piles and park and meet in front of the 4-bay shop.

FROM BETHEL: Take Route 12 South past Silver Lake and Barnard General Store. From Barnard General Store continue about 6 miles south on Route 12. Turn left on Wayside Road, a gravel road that immediately crosses a small brook next to Route 12. Go past the former River Bend garden center in a green-roofed barn with greenhouses in the back. After about a mile, the town road will cross a dam on a pond. Keep going straight on Wayside Road Ext. Go approximately one mile up this road (do NOT turn right after the pond). Where the town road takes a sharp left, continue straight through a gap in the stone walls where #796 and Gerry Hawkes is on a mailbox. Pass the log piles and park and meet in front of the 4-bay shop.