Hanover ConservancyMink Brook | Hanover Conservancy

Icy trail conditions

Adair — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:56:52 +0000

Rain in January is never a great thing for trails. Please watch your step and hope for some proper snow. We’ve provided shovels at our crossings at Mink Brook, but they can’t help with ice. Happy New Year to all.

Silent Auction! Mink Brook signs

Adair — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:46:26 +0000

Help support the Mink Brook Stewardship Fund. This fall, we replaced the carved rails of the Brook Road gate at our Mink Brook Nature Preserve to reflect our new name. The rustic, gracefully weathered originals are now a part of history. We’re accepting bids on each until January 1, 2012. Winning bidders will receive a complimentary membership in the Hanover Conservancy. MORE

Exploring history at Mink Brook Preserve

Adair — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:08:58 +0000

On Saturday, Nov. 5, we’ll explore the last 250 years of history at the Mink Brook Nature Preserve with historian Jay Barrett. Join us from 2-4pm, starting at the Brook Road gate. Families welcome (best to leave 4-footed members at home); no registration required. We’ll start with a gentle walk along the Quinn and Wheelock Trails. Those ready for an off-trail scramble can continue with us as we explore the higher terrain on the preserve’s south side. More

Invasives Treatment at Mink Brook – Wed. 10/5

Adair — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 13:19:13 +0000

Treatment of invasive Japanese knotweed will take place at the Mink Brook Nature Preserve on Wednesday, October 5. Trails will remain open. More

HUNTING SEASON UNDERWAY – Conservancy properties are Wildlife Safety Zones, but it’s always a good idea to wear a bit of brightly colored clothing (and avoid white) in the woods at this time of year.

CURRENT INFO ON CONSERVANCY TRIPS

Watch this space for up-to-the-minute information on Hanover Conservancy trips. For more, click here.

Hurricane Irene Visits Conservancy Lands

Adair — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:49:05 +0000

Conservancy volunteers fanned out across town the morning after Irene left the area, to check on trail, bridge, and forest conditions. Here’s the latest information, for your safety.

Mink Brook Nature Preserve: The bridge made it through the storm, although we have requested an inspection of the cables that bear some of the load, as they appear to be somewhat loose. We believe the bridge to remain safe for crossing, but advise that one person use it at a time. The new log crossing of Trout Brook is intact. Two trees that had jammed above the bridge have been sent on their way to the Connecticut, thanks to our friends at Chippers. A fallen tree south of the bridge has been moved aside, thanks to the Upper Valley Trails Alliance, and will become part of an Eagle Scout project to replace an unauthorized bridge on the red trail.

Balch Hill: The summit maple is untouched by the storm. There is a large birch across the Piane Trail that can be stepped over. A hemlock took a lightning strike, with pieces flung far. Branches from another birch lie across the Maple Trail not far from the stone wall. There is one 7″ diameter tree across the Hunter East Trail. If you haven’t visited the grandfather oak on the Hemlock Trail in the last few months, you’ll find that it finally dropped its large limb (earlier this summer).

Greensboro Ridge: There are a few fully downed small trees across the trail, but no trees that pose a danger for hikers. One is near the trail entrance, another just above the rocky steps, and another near the AT junction.

Slade Brook: Hikers should use caution on this trail, as there are several partially fallen trees over the path. These will be addressed within the week.

Trails Day at Mink Brook

Adair — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 17:25:41 +0000

For Trails Day this year, the Hanover Conservation Commission Trails Committee and the Hanover Conservation Council joined together to cut a new trail section in Mink Brook. This trail connects the trail head at the gate at Brook Road to the town trails closer to the Connecticut River. With the new connecting link, it will be possible to walk along Mink Brook, without going on Brook Road.

Eleven volunteers helped work on the new trail, which took about 2 hours to clear. One of the interesting challenges were the numerous hanging vines, some of which were strong enough to swing on. There was also a lot of underlying brush that had to be dragged out.

We hope that the new trail proves popular and useful.