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| List: MassLep Date: Sat, 23 May 2026 10:17:51 -0400 From: 'Alan Ankers' via MassLep <masslep...> Subject: [MassLep] Lightning Tree - Andover |
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This is a multipart message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01DCEA9D.6A582980 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" A couple of weeks ago, I visited Lightning Tree Conservation Area in Andover and was surprised by the large amount of tree clearing work that had gone on. I was hoping to see Elfins, which I have had good luck finding there in the last few years, but I did not find any at all. As some of you know, Howard Hoople has historically paid close attention to the elfins out there but has now moved out of state. I wondered if the clearing was some kind of habitat restoration that might help the elfins in the longer term (though perhaps not at present). I reached out to the Town of Andover and received this encouraging response from Ben Meade, the Director of Conservation: Yes, I understand that the tree clearing work at Lightning Tree makes the area look a lot different, and different than what you expected. The tree work was done per the requirements in the MA Natural Heritage Habitat Management Plan, and it was done under the supervision of Natural Heritage staff and a licensed forester. This tree work was done to help reduce the canopy cover and maintain the grassland/savannah/early successional habitat at Lightning Tree. White pine and other generalist tree species would otherwise close in the canopy and dominate the vegetation community at Lightning Tree over time, and this work was done to keep the area more suitable to a pitch pine and grassland-dominated habitat that also benefits Elfin butterflies and other, state-listed insects that are found at the site. Again, I know the place looks different, and I sympathize if it caused you alarm. However, this work was done with the overall ecological health of the Lightning Tree property in mind. I hope you are successful in seeing elfin butterflies the next time you visit Lightning tree, and please visit often! Alan Ankers Carlisle, MA -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MassLep" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to masslep+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/masslep/000001dceabe%24f169c980%24d43d5c80%<24...> ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01DCEA9D.6A582980 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html xmlns:v=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-micr= osoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:m=3D"http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns=3D"http:= //www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT= =3D"text/html; charset=3Dus-ascii"><meta name=3DGenerator content=3D"Micros= oft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:Aptos;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif; mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;} span.EmailStyle17 {mso-style-type:personal-compose; font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif; color:windowtext;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext=3D"edit" spidmax=3D"1026" /> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext=3D"edit"> <o:idmap v:ext=3D"edit" data=3D"1" /> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=3DEN-US link=3D"#467886= " vlink=3D"#96607D" style=3D'word-wrap:break-word'><div class=3DWordSection= 1><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>A couple of weeks a= go, I visited Lightning Tree Conservation Area in Andover and was surprised= by the large amount of tree clearing work that had gone on. I was hoping t= o see Elfins, which I have had good luck finding there in the last few year= s, but I did not find any at all. As some of you know, Howard Hoople has hi= storically paid close attention to the elfins out there but has now moved o= ut of state. I wondered if the clearing was some kind of habitat restoratio= n that might help the elfins in the longer term (though perhaps not at pres= ent). I reached out to the Town of Andover and received this encouraging re= sponse from Ben Meade, the Director of Conservation:<o:p></o:p></span></p><= p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></spa= n></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><i><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Yes, I under= stand that the tree clearing work at Lightning Tree makes the area look a l= ot different, and different than what you expected. The tree work was= done per the requirements in the MA Natural Heritage Habitat Management Pl= an, and it was done under the supervision of Natural Heritage staff and a l= icensed forester. This tree work was done to help reduce the canopy c= over and maintain the grassland/savannah/early successional habitat at Ligh= tning Tree. White pine and other generalist tree species would otherw= ise close in the canopy and dominate the vegetation community at Lightning = Tree over time, and this work was done to keep the area more suitable to a = pitch pine and grassland-dominated habitat that also benefits Elfin butterf= lies and other, state-listed insects that are found at the site.<o:p></o:p>= </span></i></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><i><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'><o:= p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><i><span style=3D'font-si= ze:11.0pt'>Again, I know the place looks different, and I sympathize if it = caused you alarm. However, this work was done with the overall ecolog= ical health of the Lightning Tree property in mind. I hope you are su= ccessful in seeing elfin butterflies the next time you visit Lightning tree= , and please visit often!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><sp= an style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNor= mal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Alan Ankers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p cl= ass=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Carlisle, MA<o:p></o:p></s= pan></p></div></body></html> <p></p> -- <br /> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups &= quot;MassLep" group.<br /> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an e= mail to <a href=3D"mailto:masslep+<unsubscribe...>">masslep+uns= <ubscribe...></a>.<br /> To view this discussion visit <a href=3D"https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/= masslep/000001dceabe%24f169c980%24d43d5c80%<24...>?utm_medium=3Dem= ail&utm_source=3Dfooter">https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/masslep/000001dc= eabe%24f169c980%24d43d5c80%<24...></a>.<br /> ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01DCEA9D.6A582980-- |
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