Town Forest

The purpose of town forest designation is to encourage the proper management of timber, firewood and other natural resources through planting, timber stand improvement, thinning, harvesting, reforestation, and other multiple use programs (RSA31:111). It also allows for the establishment of a non-lapsing forest management fund: proceeds from any town forest timber harvests may be deposited in such an account, and later used for management of the town forest (RSA31:113)

Hampstead has two separate tracts designated as town forest: Witcher Road and West Road.

Witcher Road Town Forest

The Witcher Road tract was designated as town forest by town vote in 2006. This tract comprises the lots as shown below.

Map-Lot

Acres

12-53

21.6

13-57

9.45

TOTAL

31.05

A forest management plan was developed for this property in 1974, and a timer harvest that implemented that plan was carried out in 1974 and 1975.

The management plan was updated in 2006 by Karla Allen of New England Forest Products. HCC set the following priorities for the management of this property:

  • Improve long-term timber quality of existing woodlot
  • Income Investment
  • Wildlife
  • Recreation

This plan led to another timber harvest in 2007.

West Road Town Forest

The West Road tract was designated as town forest by town vote in 2007. This tract comprises the lots as shown below.

Map-Parcel

Acres

4-39

55

6-34

3

6-35

6

6-47

112.47

6-59

6

6-101

3.3

6-102

3.2

7-79

29

7-93

29

7-96

73.54

7-99

8

7-121

2.86

TOTAL

331.37

Karla Allen will be developing a management plan for the West Road area next. The HCC has provided these priorities as input to that plan:

  • Recreation
  • Wildlife
  • Timber stand improvement
  • Income