Laurel Hill Association of Stockbridge

Ben Nickley from Berkshire Birds meets a friend (praying mantis) while assisting Laurel Hill trustees with a land assessment. Photo: K Fletcher
Donate today: https://laurelhillassociation.networkforgood.com

Lower Bowker’s Woods
On these hot summer days a cool walk in the woods slong the river is in order. Explore our Lower Bowker Woods just off Glendale Middle road. This property was acquired via trust from the will of Robert R. Bowker, one of the founders of the American Library Association. The parcels were conveyed to the LHA in November 1941.

Donate today: https://laurelhillassociation.networkforgood.com

Save The Date!
Laurel Hill Day 2024, "Art in the Woods"
On Wednesday, August 24, 1853 the first meeting was held in the glen and the Association was born. It was the doing of Mary Hopkins Goodrich, great-granddaughter of first missionary Jonathan Sergeant. Ever since, the glen has been the site of Laurel Hill Day.
Please join us, Saturday, August 24th 1PM
https://laurelhillassociation.org/news-and-events/laurel-hill-day-rsvp/

Summer storms have brought down numerous trees this year. Here, our new Treasurer Tim O’Brien and volunteer Ben Northrup are seen clearing up Laurel Hill Park. However, sometimes the task is too big for our dedicated community of volunteers, and we must hire third-party professionals. Help us keep these and other trails free from fallen debris by donating today.
Donate today: https://laurelhillassociation.networkforgood.com

The heat wave persists but Laurel Hill Park provides relief. Accessible from Main Street within the Stockbridge Town Offices parking lot. Enter this cool, shady wooded area. A refreshing escape with its canopy of dense, leafy trees filtering the sunlight and creating a tranquil, soothing environment.

With summer quickly approaching, we thought it important to highlight three very popular trails, all accessible from one starting point: the Mary Flynn Trail, Ice Glen, and Laura’s Tower. However, there are limited parking spaces at the trailhead. Here’s a little secret: park at the Stockbridge Town Offices and access the trails by walking beyond the playground into the old Little League field. Follow the short trail along the river, and before you know it, you’re at the trailhead! 🌲🚶‍♂️✨

Donate today: https://laurelhillassociation.networkforgood.com

Stockbridge is ready for summer! We’ve cleared, weeded, and planted flowers at the Post Office, War Memorial, Jonathan Edwards Memorial, and Roeder Park. We’re grateful for the donations from residents (past and present) and visitors. Your contributions help defray the costs of the wonderful work that Nicole Zaccaria Gardening and her team do to maintain these areas. Thank you for your continued support!

Donate today: https://laurelhillassociation.networkforgood.com

Memorial Day, Stockbridge, MA
On July 1, 1878, the Laurel Hill Association purchased a Civil War cannon to be placed in front of the Civil War monument at the corner of Main and Pine streets. Today, we honor and remember those who sacrificed their lives in battle for our freedom. Their bravery and selflessness ensure that the ideals of liberty and democracy endure for future generations.

Another of our stewardships is the Chestnut Preserve, which encompasses property along and within the Agawam Brook wetland areas. Although there are no hiking trails, this serene location attracts many birdwatchers who come observe birds in their natural habitats. Additionally, thanks to Ben Nickley and the Berkshire Bird Observatory, we now have a Kestrel Nest Box.

Bring the kids, your binoculars and a picnic and enjoy the natural surroundings.

Donate Today: https://laurelhillassociation.networkforgood.com

On this damp, rainy Wednesday, we are delighted to share the stunning tulips at the Stockbridge post office. Our heartfelt gratitude to Brian Cruey of the Trustees of Reservations and Nicole Zaccaria for this delightful sight. Speaking of which, keep an eye out for our May Appeal letter, soon to arrive in your mailbox.
or give today: https://laurelhillassociation.networkforgood.com

A beautiful day and view today from Laurel Hill Park and the Butler Bench.
Photo: K Fletcher

Still winter in Stockbridge for Laurel Hill with more snow and ice predicted for tomorrow but LHA Trustees and volunteers are waiting and ready to clear our trails of any downed trees! In the meantime, a hello from Laura's Tower to Mount Greylock and a hello to YOU from the Laura's Tower trail woods.

Stockbridge had very strong winds last Monday which caused large white pines to come down on the Laura's Tower trail. Who does the hard work of keeping Laurel Hill trails clear and ready for you? Let's all thank volunteer Brian Estabrook and Laurel Hill trustee Tim O'Brien! Please consider making a donation to support upcoming trail work at https://laurelhillassociation.org/
Photo of Brian clearing trails: Tim O'Brien

The Laurel Hill Chestnut Preserve now has a nesting box for American Kestrels. Many thanks to Laurel Hill trustee Tim O'Brien for introducing us to Ben Nickley from the Berkshire Bird Observatory and to Ben for bringing us this nesting box and installing it! We'll be monitoring and hoping to bring you photos of resident kestrels this spring. Are you interested in supporting our work? Please consider making a donation at https://laurelhillassociation.org/
Photo: Tim O'Brien

Wishing you the very best for 2024 from the Laurel Hill Association, an all volunteer non-profit dedicated to conservation and keeping Stockbridge beautiful for our residents and visitors.

Dennis O'Brien, son of Laurel Hill trustee Tim O'Brien, helping keep the trails clear. Please consider a donation to help us care for the trails and land by visiting www.laurelhillassociation.org Photo: Tim O'Brien

Laurel Leaves 2023 is on the way! Coming soon to the Laurel Hill website and the Leaf. Many thanks to all our donors, subscribers, Stockbridge and Glendale residents and all the volunteers that make our work possible - check your mail next week!

Tom Ricardi opening the Laurel Hill Day program with a talk on raptors - a falcon, turkey vulture (pictured) and owls. Tom talked about the human-made challenges that these magnificent raptors face - pesticides, fragmentation due to development patterns and roadways and plate glass from home and office windows with no panes or technique to prevent bird strike.

Tom Ricardi of the Birds Of Prey Rehabilitation Center Tom Ricardi, owner of the Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center in Conway, showed off his favorite bird — a turkey vulture — during the 170th Laurel Hill Day.

Laurel Hill president Hilary Somers Deely introducing Starling Childs, keynote speaker at Laurel Hill Day on Saturday. A beautiful day for an excellent program on Laurel Hill Day at the Laurel Hill Park rostrum with Laurel Hill trustees and volunteers pitching in to make it all happen. Many thanks to all and to our Laurel Hill Association supporters!

Hilary Somers Deely, president of the Laurel Hill Association, addresses the crowd Laurel Hill Association president Hilary Somers Deely told those who gathered Aug. 26 that she thinks of Laurel Hill as the "lungs of Stockbridge," and asked for continued support to

A big box of chocolates - what a nice donation to the Laurel Hill Day Refreshments Committee from Josh Needleman, owner of Chocolate Springs in Lenox! Raptors, land conservation and chocolate and more - seems like a good menu! Please be sure to see the Laurel Hill Day details posted below. My weather app is showing good weather!

Laurel Hill Day is coming soon! Saturday, August 26

1pm: Tom Ricardi and his rescued raptors - great for children!
2pm: Keynote Speaker: Starling Childs - Naturalist, Advocate, Forester and Land Manager, Advisor to the Yale School of Forestry, Founder of Stonyfield Organic Yogurt

Transporting raptors and setting up a temporary theatre under the trees is costly and your help is welcomed. Please consider donating to Laurel Hill! www.laurelhillassociation.org

Painting by Julie Edmonds, Laurel Hill Association Trustee

Laurel Hill president Hilary Deely announces 2023 Laurel Hill Day speaker Starling Childs.
Save-the-date: Saturday August 26 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Laurel Hill Park (behind the Stockbridge Town Hall located at 50 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA

For the past 170 years local Stockbridge residents and other friends have gathered in front of a rock outcropping in Laurel Hill Park located behind the Stockbridge Town Offices. This year the keynote address will be delivered by noted forested Starling (Star) Childs. Childs has spent a lifetime managing forest lands and teaching young people about the challenges facing them.

“We are delighted to have Star speak at Laurel Hill Day” said association president Hilary Somers Deely. “He has had a distinguished career as a hands-on forester and as an advisor to his alma mater’s Yale School of Forestry. Star’s expertise, insight, and easy, humorous manner guarantees that our program will be especially engaging this year.”

Childs has worked with state and local governments as well as many private clients to assess and administer their lands for ecologically sensitive development, forestry and wildlife management, recreation, natural resource extraction, bio-energy and land conservation strategies.

It is that time of year...sending laurel blossoms and beauty your way... Striped maple are an understory tree and provide food and shelter to habitat. The view is for YOU!
Photos: K Fletcher

Fancy new moss coats sent to us by Jim Schantz from Lower Bowker's woods and the Laurel Hill Association of Stockbridge. Happy Spring to you from all of us at the Laurel Hill Association of Stockbridge!

Kimberly Hallock Crocker getting in shape for Laurel Hill Day 2023. Last year, Kimberly and her husband Jonathan led the nature scavenger hunt for a bunch of youngsters and it was informative and FUN (not to mention the cupcakes at the end).

Save the date for Laurel Hill Day this summer: Saturday, August 26 at 2pm!!

Our president, Hilary Deely, loves and plans a fun event, always!

West Main Street, Stockbridge with elm trees on the left. From an early 1900s postcard published by the American News Company and printed in Germany.

Frederick Law Olmsted loved curves in roads and Laurel Hill does too!

With many thanks to YOU our donors! Laurel Hill has just met its goal for 2022! Next year we will be focussing on our flagship trail, the Mary Flynn Trail, which is in need of structural repairs. A special call-out to our Laurel Hill president Hilary Somers Deely and her husband Phil Deely for their phenomenal fundraising work. And here is a picture from our archives provided by our final donor topper of the year, Pat Flinn: Mary Flynn on the Mary Mobile with Tom Stokes and Pepi the Puppy on the Mary Flynn Trail in 2003, the day after the ribbon cutting and dedication of the trail.

Happy New Year to our Laurel Hill friends! Please help Laurel Hill meet its 2022 goal of $60K, we're just $700 short! Check out Laurel Leaves and while you are there, please hit that green support button! https://laurelhillassociation.org/2022/11/15/laurel-leaves-newsletter-2022/

Laurel Leaves Newsletter 2022 Please click on the image below to download the full PDF version.

Winter Dreams on the Mary Flynn Trail...
Photo: Jim Schantz

Laurel Hill Association president Hilary Deely out inspecting the Mary Flynn Trail on a beautiful fall day.

Jim Schantz visits with an old friend...