Recognizing the value of Wintonbury Land Trust’s participation in Bloomfield’s “TREES FOR BLOOMFIELD” Initiative in 2021, a land trust member made a generous donation to support tree maintenance and public accessibility to trees on land trust property. Because Hawk Hill Farm has a number of “Notable Trees,” the donor readily agreed to using these funds at the farm for two purposes: to establish a “tree trail” for public enjoyment and to remove invasive plants from the farm’s trees.
What is a “Notable Tree?” The Connecticut Notable Trees Project was established in 1985 to collect and share information about Connecticut’s largest and most historic trees. Trees are added to and subtracted from the database as big “new trees” are located and old trees die. We are proud of the fact that at any given time our Hawk Hill Farm property includes half-a-dozen notable trees listed in the database. To determine if a tree is a large enough specimen of its species to be listed, three measurements are used to calculate a point score for the tree: circumference of the trunk, average spread of the tree’s branches, and height of the tree.
The work to develop our Tree Trail included updating measurements of the farm’s “Notable Trees” as well as holding a series of work parties to clear the areas around both Notable and non-Notable trees that will be included on the trail. Educational signage is being planned at each tree location. It will identify the tree species and the characteristics that make it beneficial for wildlife and the environment. Additionally, there will be a large sign near the farm parking area showing the trail location and providing more information about the benefits of trees.
