In 1719 a group of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian refugees fled violence in Northern Ireland and came to New England. They settled, in what today is, Londonderry, NH. The abundance of nut-bearing trees growing in the area caused them to name their new settlement Nutfield. Black walnut and butternut were among the trees they found, but perhaps the one that benefitted them most was the America chestnut which they surely put to good use. Today, the prevalence of nut trees that once flourished in Nutfield has diminished significantly.
In preparation for Londonderry’s 300th anniversary, VT/NH Chapter members Kent and Meredith Allen, have organized an effort to restore nut trees to their community. In January of 2017 Kent contacted TACF’s New England Regional Science Coordinator, Kendra Collins, to ask how he could obtain Potentially Blight-Resistant (PBR) American chestnut trees. Kendra asked VT/NH Chapter Board member, Doug McLane, and volunteer, Curt Laffin, to follow up with Kent. Doug and Curt met him and Meredith at the Kent Allen Town Forest to assess the site’s potential for an Educational Planting of PBR trees and to explain the Chapter’s Educational Planting Guidelines. After soil sampling and other conditions were found to be favorable, the organizers were ready to implement our Guidelines.
Kent and Meredith Allen guide fourth graders through the planting process.
Doug obtained six chestnut saplings that have been planted at the site. He is also developing an Educational Planting Nursery program to assure that the VT/NH Chapter has a good supply of healthy PBR saplings for future Educational Plantings.
Kent and Meredith scheduled the event for May 4, 2017 and invited fourth graders from Londonderry schools to assist with planting. He told the students that when they graduate from high school, they and their friends may be able to come here and harvest blight-resistant American chestnuts. TAFC Volunteer Carol Wallace gave each student a previous year’s chestnut bur along with pictures of ripe burs and nuts so they will know what to look for when they return in six to eight years. She also handed out TACF brochures and urged the students to share the days experience with their parents and friends.
The students, parents, town officials, and others enjoyed a very successful planting day. More than 50 people attended.