Nothing brings the land to life more than a well designed and crafted trail. It should come as no surprise to most of us in New England that the forest is a bit dense in places, and downright difficult to bushwhack through if you're not in the mood. This 1/2 mile footpath on a 17.5 acre lot in Roxbury allows the owners to silently and easily pass through very old hemlock forest nearing old-growth stature; rich shrub communities with hobblebush, witchhazel, blueberries, native honeysuckles, dogwoods, pepperbush, huckleberry, shadbush, and others; vernal pools; and the highlight, more than 1500 feet of shoreline on Spectacle Pond.
An old hemlock along the trail at Spectacle Pond. The scar was caused by a fire decades ago, which may have escaped from a burning field. Well-designed trails 'connect the dots', or move the user from one interesting feature to the next, whether it's a large tree, a view, a mossy log, or any other feature that stands out. Not only does this make the trail more visually enticing, but also serves as an educational tool.What's involved in establishing a long-lasting and enjoyable trail like this?
-It's critical that the land is thoroughly inventoried for unique natural features, suitable topography, natural contours, and wet & sensitive areas to avoid.
-A potential path should be plotted on a map to see how it utilizes the shape and features of the lot. This should then be reviewed with the landowner.
-The path is then flagged out and walked to assure that the course follows the best natural features and contours, and possibilities for losing the trail are minimized. Make changes if necessary.
-Construction begins! Clearing the debris, cutting necessary trees, and pruning all branches that are in the trailspace now and might be in the future. Opening a broad vertical space creates a feeling of a high forest canopy even in dense young forest. It's also important to drag the brush far enough off the trail that it is not an eyesore or a safety hazard.
-Final touches; raking the thick duff off the path, contouring corners, filling low spots, cutting stumps low, building bridges, and opening/accenting natural views of scenic features.
A well designed and built trail can last for a long time and provide years of enjoyment. For this particular landowner, it opened their eyes to their own land in a way they couldn't have anticipated, allowing them to access special spots that formerly required a serious undertaking to get to.