Horticulture Farm
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Introduction
The Horticulture Farm woodlot is located on U.S. Route 4 in Durham, NH. It contains 155.5 acres of forestland, with 125.5 acres classified as commercial forest and 30 acres in the wetland state. This area provides numerous sites for educational research. This property is utilized by various fields of study including forestry, wildlife, and genetics. The Horticulture Farm provides a natural laboratory for all fields of natural resources and many University of New Hampshire and Thompson School courses use this area on a regular basis.
History
The Horticulture Farm was granted to the University of New Hampshire on November 12, 1930 by Walter C. O'Kane of Durham. Since then there are records of harvest activities from 1971 to the present day.
Present Use
Recent activities on the Horticulture Farm woodlot include sugar maple tapping, hunting, horseback riding, and timber sales. Wildlife resources on this property are only fair, but white-tailed deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and numerous species of game and song birds are residents of the area. The property contains a rolling topography, typical of southern New Hampshire with nearly 50% of the trees being eastern white pine. The remaining components of the area include 35% mixed hardwoods and 15% red pine. Recreation on the property is minimal with the exception of horseback riding.
