Wells Forest is a certified American Tree Farm and the Wells are Maine’s American Tree Farmers for 2017. Currently, this designation requires a detailed management plan and approval by a licensed forester. American Tree Farm encourages good stewardship of family owned forests. The Standards address four key areas: water, wildlife, wood and recreation. For more information visit: https://www.treefarmsystem.org/
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LaBallister Mill
It appears that there was a shingle mill on our property in the mid-1800’s. Perhaps the large rock wall that remains on both sides of the stream is somehow related to this shingle mill.
Benefits of Crop Tree Release
Approximately one year after the crop tree release practice was applied, the landowners measured the diameter of the white pine trees that were selected for growth rate studies by the University of Maine students. From the data below, you can see how much growth was observed after just 2 years. We will be measuring again in 2017 to update these numbers.
Students Measure White Pines
University of Maine Forestry students and their professors recently visited the a White Pine stand where the Crop Tree Release practice was applied. At the site, students measured the diameter and height of the White Pine Trees. The data gathered formed the basis of a study to show the benefits of crop tree release.
Pre-commercial thinning
The hand crew is preparing their brush saws to remove all undesirable tree species and other growth that competes with the trees wanted such as spruce and fir. By applying the pre-commercial thinning practice, the time needed to grow the commercial timber to a mature age for harvest can be…
Growing Forests, Learning Together
One of the goals for Wells Demonstration Forest is to show how powerful and effective a team can be when they are organized around the goal of establishing a sustainable working forest that includes wildlife habitat, stream habitat and multi-species tree habitats where a variety of commercial timber can be…
About Us
Wells Forest is located in a region of Maine that typically has historically supported industrial forestry practices. The property is adjacent to Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. The Maine Natural Areas Program has identified a number of important habitats on Wells Forest. There is an inland wading bird habitat along…
Forest History
This is the page about all the history we have found out about our forest. There was a shingle mill on the property that was very busy. It is nearly 200 years old and a stone foundation still can be found on the property where the shingle mill once stood. …
Stream Team
Our Stream Team is composed of the best in class including aquatic biologists, ecologist for riparian habitats and fish biologist who know what grows here and how big they get. Sunkhaze Stream has changed over the past 200 years and our goal is to restore the stream to what it…