Connecticut news

New Regional Science Coordinator Announced

Leila Pinchot has been the TACF Regional Science Coordinator for two years (May 2006) and has recently decided to pursue a PhD program at University of Tennessee, working with Dr. Scott Schlarbaum and Dr. Stacy Clark on a project that will include chestnut silviculture. Leila will make the shift from Yale to Knoxville in mid July.

Kendra Gurney, recent graduate of University of Vermont-MS in Natural Resources with a forestry concentration-will be joining our staff in mid-May for a smooth transition with Leila in the New England Science Coordinator position.

Kendra's research was on American chestnut restoration, working with Dr. Paul Schaberg of the USDAFS field station in Burlington, VT. Kendra was also instrumental in the formation of the NH/VT-15th state chapter of TACF. Kendra grew up on the NH seacoast and received her BS in Environmental Conservation Science with a self-designed minor in plant and forest health.

While we will miss Leila terribly, we whole-heartedly welcome Kendra to the New England Regional Science Coordinator position, and look forward to dong all sort of wonderful work with Kendra, restoring the chestnut, over the coming years.

Kendra Gurney hugging an American chestnut tree – Photo taken by Leila Pinchot

Leila Pinchot planting pitch pine at Greeley Labs. Leila will be leaving the position at TACF mid-summer and moving to Tennessee to pursue her PhD – Photo taken by Star Childs

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A wild American chestnut is always a sight to see, especially one with a healed canker.

Have you found any wild American chestnuts?

#americanchestnut #nature #envrionment #blight #explore
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Quite a few around us in CT, but none that big. I assume what we are seeing are stump sprouts.

God, I hope it has developed genetic resistance and passes that on. I want to live in a world full of American Chestnuts and Elms again

At my art residency in WV there was an American chestnut tree in their yard! I cried! I collected some of the seed pods

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Every season tells a story… 🌰

Maybe it’s a chipmunk on the run, a chestnut sprouting new life, or snow dusting winter leaves. However you see it, we want you to capture it. The 2026 American Chestnut Photo Contest is open!

📸 Submit up to 5 photos
🏆 Chance to win TACF gear + a feature in Chestnut magazine + Seed Level membership
🗓️ Entries due December 31, 2026

Your next hike could lead to the winning shot.

Submit photos to: gro.fcat@snoitacinummoc

Visit the following link for more information: tacf.org/2026-photo-contest/

#naturelovers #americanchestnut #photographycontest #exploremore #photography
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Every season tells a story… 🌰Maybe it’s a chipmunk on the run, a chestnut sprouting new life, or snow dusting winter leaves. However you see it, we want you to capture it. The 2026 American Chestnut Photo Contest is open!📸 Submit up to 5 photos🏆 Chance to win TACF gear + a feature in Chestnut magazine + Seed Level   membership🗓️ Entries due December 31, 2026Your next hike could lead to the winning shot.Submit photos to: communications@tacf.orgVisit the following link for more information: https://tacf.org/2026-photo-contest/#naturelovers #americanchestnut #photographycontest #exploremore #photographyImage attachment

Visit www.williamsondailynews.com/opinion/appalachian-bluebird-when-the-forests-were-brought-down-the-m... to explore this article on the historic logging industry, the significance of American chestnuts within it, and the methods used to transport logs from the mountains.

#americanchestnut #news #logging #history #explore
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Visit https://www.williamsondailynews.com/opinion/appalachian-bluebird-when-the-forests-were-brought-down-the-mountain/article_2f171b21-7152-50ab-9767-4c52aff55471.html to explore this article on the historic logging industry, the significance of American chestnuts within it, and the methods used to transport logs from the mountains. #americanchestnut #news #logging #history #explore

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Raping the earth really noble 🤬

Check out this reel by the Seed Crown Company! They are testing whether Seed Crown shelters can help with direct seeding chestnuts in a forest setting.

In this video, Scott Laseter heads out to a montane longleaf restoration area on Georgia's Pine Mountain for the first tally of a direct seeding trial for American chestnuts.
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Check out this informative short video by the Georgia Chapter! It shows you how we process catkins and store pollen for chestnut breeding. ... See MoreSee Less

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