VERNON — A trio of experts will lead a guided walk to visit one or more of the Black Gum Swamps in Vernon's J. Maynard Miller Town Forest on Friday, April 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
This is an opportunity for people who may never have visited the Black Gum Swamps to see them, and for anyone interested to gain a better understanding of the swamps' ecological uniqueness and their value to the town and the region.
Leading this excursion will be Windham County Forester Bill Guenther, Wetlands Program Director Laura Lapierre of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, and State Lands Ecologist Bob Zaino from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.
On the hike, they will tell participants about this relatively unknown natural treasure. Some of the black gum trees (Nyssa sylvatica) are more than 400 years old. This is the only place in Vermont this species of tree can be found. Typically the black gum is found south of the Mason-Dixon line, where it is known as the tupelo or black tupelo.
One black gum tree in the Vernon forest was measured, some years ago, to be 435 years old. At another location in southern New Hampshire, a black gum was found to be 562 years old. These trees not only are among the oldest trees in New England, but they may be the oldest broadleaf deciduous trees in North America.
Because of the presence of these trees, the DEC has proposed to designate the swamps as Class I wetlands (they are now Class II) in order to provide greater protection to these natural areas.
Lapierre will hold a public meeting on May 8, at 6 p.m., at the Vernon Town Office Building (lower level). This meeting will be an opportunity to learn more about what Class I status entails and to address concerns and questions the town of Vernon may have.