Landscape is much more than scenery to be observed or terrain to be traveled. Imprinted into the land is the history of how we and other species have inhabited it, the storms and fires that have shaped it, and its response to these and other changes.

Few people can “read” that imprint better than Tom Wessels, a terrestrial ecologist and Professor Emeritus at Antioch University New England in the Department of Environmental Studies, where he founded the master’s program in conservation biology.

Join Tom Wessels on July 28 from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm for this special program based on his acclaimed book, “Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England,” which teaches us to read a landscape the way we might solve a mystery. No walk in the woods will ever be the same once you learn Tom’s techniques to see and interpret the evidence that exists in the forest: stonewalls, beaver ponds, scars on tree trunks, stump decay, forest floor topography. What does it all mean? Come find out!

Part 1 of the program will be Tom’s renowned slideshow presentation–including his own photos–to show how a forest’s history can be deciphered in great detail. This presentation will take place at the LEED Platinum, net-zero for carbon home of a Kestrel community member in Northampton.

During the second part of the program, we will travel to the Mineral Hills, a 121-acre conservation area on the western border of Northampton, conserved by the City of Northampton with assistance from Kestrel Land Trust. Tom will lead the group on a walk through the diverse mix of terrain and habitats found here and show us in person how to read the forested landscape.

The cost for this program is $30 per person. Space is limited to 20 participants and registration is required.

SORRY: THIS PROGRAM IS NOW FULL! PLEASE EMAIL MARILYN@KESTRELTRUST.ORG TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITLIST.