The Forest

Most of the walking trails at the conservancy wind through this woodland area, allowing visitors to see several different stages of forest succession. The American sweetgum (Liquidambar styracifluar) grove, a relatively young forested area, is one of the most northern naturally occurring stands of these typically southern trees in the country. In the southeast part of the conservancy a significant portion of the old growth forest remains, consisting primarily of oak and hickory. However, the rest is predominately second-growth forest, full of red (Quercus rubra), white (Quercus alba) and chestnut oak (Quercus montana), which often hybridize in the wild. There are also native wild black cherry (Prunus serotina), tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera), North American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and others.

The trees in the forest grow closely together, with most branches at the top to catch the vital rays of sunlight. A large size, with a wide trunk that has branches on all sides all the way up the tree, indicates that tree that grew up in open fields. Until several hundred years ago sunlight surrounded a few remaining trees on all sides, after most of the old trees were cut and cleared. The land was then plowed and turned into fields for growing crops or raising animals. (See History).

These trees, like all green plants, make their own food through photosynthesis. In the presence of sunlight, green leaves synthesize carbon dioxide absorbed through pores (stomata), mixing it with water drawn up to the leaves from the roots. During daylight hours, when photosynthesis occurs, plants make more oxygen than they use. This oxygen is released through the stomata on the underside of the leaf. The process of photosynthesis is largely responsible for producing and maintaining the oxygen content of the Earth’s atmosphere, which supplies most of the energy necessary for life on Earth.

Many different creatures make their homes in this forest.

The familiar eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) lives in the trees; foraging during the day, on the ground and in the trees for buds, nuts and sometimes fungi. Their relative the chipmunk (Tamias striatus) or ground squirrel, live in hollow logs, in amongst stones, and in networks of underground tunnels. The very familiar, mostly nocturnal omnivore, the raccoon (Procyon lotor) also lives in the woods, under rocks and in hollow logs as well as resting high up in trees. Its distinctive, extremely dexterous front paws, facial mask, and ringed tail, are featured in the mythologies of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Its name is a corruption of North American Indian and part French languages. (See History).

Unlike the other amphibians which visit Parson’s Pond, the northern redback salamander (Plethodon cinereus) remains in the forest. Here they eat a wide variety of small invertebrates, including spiders, worms, snails, larvae and insects. This secretive nighttime forager breeds in the fall and lays egg in the spring. The eggs are laid on moist, terrestrial areas, under logs, stones, or moss along the edges of wetland pools and ponds.