What Hastings Is Doing
The Urban Silviculture Research Project
A team of National Forest Service scientists have identified four sites in Hillside Woods for an oak regeneration study that looks at oak suitability as a canopy-gap filler in urban forests. The research work provides fencing, seedlings, planting and maintenance and will result in four stands of white and chestnut oak trees. Lucky us! The oak babies were planted in November of 2023. Read the full proposal here.
Hastings established the Hillside Woods Restoration Project in 2018. → Click for more info and a history of the project.
HWRP welcomes volunteers and we train! Learn about the woods and enjoy some camaraderie
Project streams: invasive removal & replanting data, trail work to date, plus what's next
The Future
We have exclosed 30 acres from deer, and we will follow up to monitor what regenerates. Bartlett Tree Care will be working to manage heavy wooden invasives in the exclosure. Volunteer sessions will be scheduled to remove lighter invasives and do more replanting of extirpated species. We will continue to tube baby trees outside of the exclosure and seek help with to trail maintenance. To volunteer, contact hillsidewoods@hastingsgov.org.
