Early Successional Forest Management in Practice – Morneau Farm

DATE: 5/17/2025

TIME: 1 PM

LOCATION: Morneau Farm, Southbridge, MA

COST: Free, but space is limited, RSVP required

Did you know that there are many benefits to using logging to clear areas of trees in order to create early successional forest habitat? While they may look dramatic at first, these kinds of cuts can promote biodiverse habitats, promote forest regeneration, and help to reduce the spread of pests.

Join forester and Opacum director Scott Gerrish to learn about the early successional habitat management taking place at Morneau Farm and how it is helping birds and other wildlife. You will see the forest in various successional stages, with the recent harvest abutting a cut completed 5 years ago, all surrounded by forest approximately 100 years old.

Scott will share Opacum’s motivations behind opening the canopy, forestry considerations that went into the project, and the results that are seen at the site today. 

The program is free, but RSVP is REQUIRED, space is limited.