On or about Nov 3, 2025, tree and access work related to the Woodbridge Park Association’s (WPA’s) Beech Tree Treatment Grant will begin. We will need to close certain sections of the Park for safety reasons. Areas of work will be posted on this site for your information. The duration of the work will be approximately 3 weeks but is subject to change based on weather and other considerations. Your cooperation and understanding is appreciated.
As part of WPA’s continuing efforts to enhance and maintain the diversity, resilience, beauty and productivity of the forests at Alice Newton Street Memorial Park, a combination of experimental forest management treatments on just under 7 acres will soon be taking place in Alice Newton Street Memorial Park. This operation is recommended in the 10-year management plan that was written in 2024 for the property. This plan was prepared by Ferrucci & Walicki, LLC, Forestland Management Consultants, of Middlefield, CT. The foresters at Ferrucci & Walicki are professionally trained and certified with more than 20 years of forest management experience throughout Connecticut and New England.
The primary driver of these treatments is to respond to the rapidly developing impacts of beech leaf disease. Beech leaf disease has infested American beech property-wide. Beech leaf disease (BLD), which is new to Connecticut (first discovered in 2019 in Fairfield County), has begun to impact large swaths of beech trees throughout the state. The disease is caused by a nematode (small roundworm-like micro-organism) and its presence results in disrupted photosynthesis due to leaf curl and early leaf drop which has significant impacts on tree health and vigor.
The project will implement several different techniques (retaining trees in different densities and arrangements within treated areas) and treatment areas will be compared over time to control areas where no changes will be made to the trees. This approach is aimed at informing WPA and others in the conservation and natural resources community about how/if we can better manage Connecticut’s forests to respond to this and other novel insect/disease pressures. Invasive plants are also being controlled before and following the treatments described here. For more information about beech leaf disease see: CEAS – BEECH LEAF DISEASE FACT SHEET.
Aside from monitoring, the project is expected to take around one and a half months from beginning to end and will have minimal impacts on the hiking trail system, though all or portions of the trails will need to be closed for safety during the operation. The loading area, or place where the logs are stored for pickup by log trucks, will be located on town-owned property that abuts the park to the south. The portion of the town property being used houses the town’s municipal organic debris pile. Traffic attributed to the project will consist of the contractor entering and exiting the site each day and several tri-axle trucks per week to pick up the logs from the loading area. The trucks will meet all DOT weight limits and other requirements and are driven by professional, highly trained people who will take care and will be aware of children, pets and all the other potential distractions associated with residential areas.
If you have questions regarding the project please email fw@fwforesters.com or natehcase@gmail.com.
