Description:

This 16.3 acre property lies on the western edge of Easthampton, with the south branch of the Manhan River forming its western boundary. The majority of the property is wetland, but there is an upland component too.

The Red Maple Forest is the largest community. It includes a section of shrub wetland in the southern half, which is  made up of impenetrable silky dogwood and multiflora rose with some Morrow’s honeysuckle as well. A floodplain red maple forest on the northern section is mostly red maple in the canopy with a little elm and ash. There are lots of multiflora rose in the understory. This community also includes a narrow strip along the west boundary is a mixed hardwood forest with red and black oak, black birch and maple. Some streams enter into this portion from the east, coming down some steep and muddy ravines.

On an elevated bench at the north end is a White Pine Forest. This stand is a good habitat for roosting or nesting owls, hawks, or crows. The shrub layer in it is sparse, but contains lowbush blueberry, arrowwood, burning bush, glossy buckthorn, and Japanese barberry. These last three species are all invasive and likely colonized here following this stand’s history as a pasture, which is evidenced by some sprawling juniper bushes. In the ground layer are lots of seedlings of bittersweet along with such common plants as Christmas fern, Canada mayflower, intermediate wood fern, and princess pine.

The third community is a vernal pool almost completely filled with buttonbush.

The fourth community is a shallow marsh that is a beaver-flooded wetland with somewhat more diversity. In addition to buttonbush it also contains cut-grass, halberd-leaf tearthumb, dodder, and spotted touch-me-not. There is a small area of open water in the center.

The Manhan River itself is 20-25 ft wide, 1-3 ft deep, has a silty, sandy bottom, and mud banks 6-7 ft high. It is mostly unshaded in this section.

Assets:

The best features of this property are its relatively large size and its lack of disturbance by humans (except indirectly by the invasive plants). The conservation status of this property helps retain the integrity of the Manhan River corridor. The Manhan River here is classified as Living Waters Core Habitat and the conservation area itself is included in BioMap Core Habitat. The NHESP database indicates that three rare species have been recorded in the vicinity of this area.

The birds seen here are a mix of forest species, open-shrubby species, and those who utilize the river.

Accessible to the Public: Yes

Click here to view a virtual tour of Pomeroy Meadows.

Access to trails is at the end of Ranch Ave. Refer to maps.

Description:

Located on the south shore of Rubber Thread Pond and adjacent to City Hall, this tiny, but popular half-acre conservation in the center of town has big management issues, as well as many assets. The property, located on the south shore of Rubber Thread Pond is primarily used for fishing. The shoreline here is accessed by a trail through a forested strip between the pond and Lake Street. At the east side of the conservation area there is a small parking area,a gazebo, picnic site, and steps down to the water. At the west end of the property is a small open area under two large sugar maples.

The woods along the shore contain primarily sugar maple, red maple, and red oak, with lesser amounts of Norway maple, black locust, paper birch and white ash. The shrub layer is mostly sugar maple but also contains Norway maple, false indigo (a non-native but non-invasive species), Japanese barberry and several other native and non-native species. The ground layer is a mix of herbs, ferns, and grasses, most of which are native.

Assets:

Despite the challenges from being an in-town park, this property provides city dwellers a taste of nature, and does have valuable habitat features for wildlife. The landscaped area has been thoughtfully planted with a variety of non-invasive fruit-bearing shrubs. A shadbush tree planted by the parking area provides ripe fruit for birds.

This park is a rejuvenating spot for people on their lunch break, nearby residents seeking some contact with nature, or for fishing.

Trails: Yes

Description:

This conservation area, at the far east side of town on East Street comprises 4.64 acres including the E. Florence Smith nature trail. The area is bisected by the Manhan Rail Trail into two parcels of unequal size, with the substantially larger area located along the Manhan River floodplain. A parking pullout with a picnic area is on East Street, and from here a trail goes east, passing beneath the Rail Trail on an abandoned road to reach the lower portion of the area. Vegetative cover varies across the site, including a Northern Hardwood forest, Mixed Hardwood-Hemlock Forest, High Terrace Floodplain Forest, and Transitional Floodplain Forest.

Assets:

This is a nice example of a floodplain forest with easy public access. Though the property is small, there are several trails that cross through all the forest types. It hosts a nice variety of native plants with remarkably few invasive plants. A rare sedge has been reported in the lower portion of the property in the transitional floodplain forest. Another interesting, though not rare plant is the native shrub bladdernut, which is abundant at the west end of the property.

Three rare animal species have been recorded in the NHESP database as occurring in or near this conservation area. This stretch of the Manhan River is also classified as Living Waters Core Habitat.

Accessible to the Public: Yes

Trails: Yes