A 77 foot, 5 ton white pine has now made its way through downtown Hanover from Oak Hill to the Mink Brook Nature Preserve, courtesy of Chippers, Liberty Utilities, Lawson Crane & Rigging, Dartmouth College, Royal Trail Works, and loads of volunteers. It’s resting now at the Brook Road gate and offering a temporary exhibit on events in the life of Hanover and this tree while it was growing. Stop by to have a look! UPDATES POSTED HERE
The Hanover Conservancy has been following the proposals by Dartmouth College to develop a new campus on Lyme Road, north of the traditional campus, on its former golf course land. Concerns about challenging soils and drainage conditions, along with the proximity of Pine Park and the already-impaired Girl Brook, have led our organization to offer this comment.
Read HC letter to The Town regarding Concerns with North Campus
Photos (by Hanover Conservancy board and staff)
Hanover Conservancy and Town of Hanover volunteers lent a hand to help our neighbors, Pine Park Association, install a new kiosk at the entrance to Pine Park. We had loads of fun using the electric post-hole digger!
Much is afoot at Hanover’s oldest conservation area, and trail builders are asking for eager feet to help “break in” some new trails. In the park’s interior, volunteers are clearing two east-west connector trails between the River Trail and the Cathedral Trail, where foot traffic would help harden the treadway. So, if you are in Pine Park, check out these new connectors and help establish them as part of the trail network.
Work has also started (photo) on the accessibility trail from the former clubhouse. Avoid this trail until it’s ready but enjoy seeing the progress.
Mink Brook Log Crossing status as of August 1st, 2022
You may recall that we were planning for its replacement well before advancing rot forced us to close it last summer, starting with research into what kind of structure would conform to the restrictions in our deed. The above-mentioned erosion meant we needed longer, stronger logs than the trees growing there could provide, so we can’t just replace the log. Our terrific team of Thayer engineering students developed a well-considered plan for a new crossing in the same place, and we’ve been working since March to secure approvals from key stakeholders.
To that end, our volunteers are wandering around the Preserve interviewing visitors (again) to learn more about how and where they enjoy the land, so we can share that information with those decision-makers. We hope to have good news soon!
We are working with the landowners and the Town’s Trails Committee to focus use and maintenance on the best connections and close some lesser-used, duplicate trails. Volunteer-led trail work made great strides in Fall, 2021 and will resume in Spring, 2022. We’ve updated our map to show new routes and those no longer open on the central and southern part of the mountain. We hope this helps while you’re out on the trails this winter!
Download the Winter 2022 interim trail map here
Please note that these trails are maintained by volunteers. While some trails traverse lands managed by the Hanover Conservation Commission or protected by the Hanover Conservancy, many paths cross privately-owned lands that are not conserved. Please do your part to keep these trails open by respecting these generous landowners and treating their property as you would your own.
