This fall we will be undertaking a timber harvest at the Piscassic Greenway. The harvest is anticipated to begin in early September and last into November. This timeframe may change depending on ground conditions and other unforeseen circumstances. The extent of the harvest will span approximately 58 acres in the eastern part of the Piscassic Greenway, accessed via Neal Mill Road. Please see the map here for the harvest area. 

 After this harvest is complete, we anticipate similar harvests will be carried out in different areas at the Piscassic Greenway between 2026 and 2028.  The last harvest was completed in 2011-2012. 

For the safety of visitors, workers, and other natural resource professionals involved in the operation, the portion of the Byrne Spur Trail east of the boardwalk, and the entire Otis Hill trail will be closed for the duration of the operation. 

 Neal Mill Road will be an active trucking route during the operation and will be rehabilitated as necessary after the operation. The Bald Hill Road trailhead, Halls Mill Road trailheads, and Rockingham Rail Trail access will remain unaffected during the operation. Off-trail travel in the harvest area will be prohibited for the duration of the harvest, for safety reasons. 

Promoting regeneration means encouraging the growth of seedlings and saplings that are currently living close to the forest floor (also called the forest’s “understory”) and giving them the opportunity to become the next level in the forest canopy (the “overstory”). This careful, selective cut will provide ideal conditions for this to happen by allowing more light to pass through and by making growing space more available for the next generation of trees. A healthy, resilient forest is one that is diversified in many ways, including trees of a variety of ages, ranging from brand-new seedlings to centuries-old overstory trees. 

Promoting regeneration means encouraging the growth of seedlings and saplings that are currently living close to the forest floor (also called the forest’s “understory”) and giving them the opportunity to become the next level in the forest canopy (the “overstory”). This careful, selective cut will provide ideal conditions for this to happen by allowing more light to pass through and by making growing space more available for the next generation of trees. A healthy, resilient forest is one that is diversified in many ways, including trees of a variety of ages, ranging from brand-new seedlings to centuries-old overstory trees. 

Yes – this timber harvest will produce revenue. The revenue from the cut will compensate the loggers, our consulting foresters, and pay the NH timber tax to the Towns of Newmarket and Newfields. SELT will receive revenue as well, which will be used to further our mission of saving, sharing, and stewarding the critical lands in our region. 

 This wood will be of good value for the regional economy, providing material for building supplies, firewood, and millwork. Finally, there is no financial quota for the cut; the ecological motivations are first and foremost and will guide the decisions on what to harvest or not. 

The reality of any entry into the forest is that some wildlife may be temporarily impacted, but overall, this cut is designed to create a richer, more varied and healthier habitat for wildlife and plants. SELT has consulted with wildlife biologists (some of whom were also involved in approving the management plan) to ensure that the operation is conducted in such a way that it has minimal negative impacts on wildlife and provides significant wildlife benefits. 

 Land management is always a balancing act and not every species may benefit, but the guiding principle of SELT’s ecological activities is to help as many native plants and wildlife flourish as possible, including any focal species known to be on a property. We do that by keeping the forest healthy and diverse so this beloved property can continue as a thriving forest for generations to come. 

You’ll see stumps and some woody debris, which are purposefully left behind. Limbs and leaves contain high amounts of nutrients, which are returned to the ecosystem through decomposition and will contribute towards stronger forest health. Essentially, it will still look like the forest you love, just thinned out in places to allow more sunlight to come through. You may also see small openings from 1/20th to a ½-acre in size which help promote the regeneration of desired tree species (such as oak and pine) in areas that were dominated by less resilient species and lower quality trees (such as declining beech or hemlock).   

Yes. The last harvest we had at Piscassic Greenway was 2011-2012. The ecological and management objectives were the same then as they are now - and, you may have walked right by the area without even noticing it. If you would like to learn more about this harvest and how it looks today take a moment to read this post.