wildflowers

Happy Spring from the West River Trail! It’s so exciting to see the first wildflowers emerge. Read more below about the fate of some of the trees we planted last year as part of the 350 VT Rewilding project.

Tree report and tree and wildflower photos courtesy of Jesse Wagner.

It’s amazing how much the Riverstone Preserve got scoured by the winter ice! The Hepatica, Dutchmen’s Breeches, Trout Lilies are in bloom and the Bloodroot and Trillium are starting to open.

I was unable to locate the southernmost tree (Hackberry) that we planted last year with all of the new driftwood berms, but we found the tube that had previously protected it about 100’ away. This was another Hackberry tree along the river that was also directly affected by the scouring movement of the giant ice chunks. I was just barely able to see this tube buried under brush completely flat and bend it back to shape. The tree is still alive! Not sure how alive yet though. The hazelnuts by the new bridge are doing great but the ones out in the middle of the wetland have been deer browsed heavily. If they bud after all, I will put larger tubes on them to protect them from future browsing. I haven’t recently checked on the trees by the log near the picnic table in Riverstone Preserve trail, the two living trees at Rice Farm Rd kiosk or the two shagbark trees at the northwest corner of Riverstone Preserve trail, but I hope they are doing well.

Spring has sprung on the West River Trail! The river is running high, the trail edges are greening up, the wildflowers are blooming, and the trees are leafing out.

Many thanks to PCL Civil Constructors, Inc. for their efforts to keep the West River Trail open during all phases of bridge construction. Trail users should exercise extreme caution at the intersections between construction access and the trail path. As an additional safety precaution, users of the West River Trail are reminded to keep pets on a leash, especially in the construction area.

Please note that demolition of the old iron bridge over Route 30 will begin by the middle of May. During bridge demolition above the trail, personnel will be stationed to provide warning to pedestrians when work is occurring overhead.

Please also note that some users have reported trees and rock slides across the trail. Enjoy the trail, but be observant, and stay safe.

If you would like additional information about the bridge construction, please contact Bonnie Clark, Public Relations Officer, at bclark@pcl.com, PCL Civil Constructors, Inc., 41 Spring Tree Road, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301, 802-251-0709, www.pcl.com.