 Photo Courtesy James J Choiniere
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 Photo Courtesy James J Choiniere
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Nathan Hale State Forest: The first purchase of this forest was in 1946, through a bequest by the late George Dudley Seymour. The original purchase of 850 acres has grown since then to about 1,500 acres today. Mr. Seymour wanted to restore the Hale farm property he had purchased in 1914 ?to a state comparable to that which existed during Hale?s boyhood, when most of the lands were cleared and grazed by sheep and cattle?. He soon saw how hopeless that idea would be, as the land reverted to forest faster than he could keep it cleared.
Two of his forester friends may have influenced him to turn his interest to forest and wildlife management. In the 1930?s, with guidance from Dean Graves of Yale and George Cromie, Mr. Seymour began establishing conifer plantations. This practice continued into the 1950?s, by which time the land was under State ownership.
Mr. Seymour also had an interesting way of marking his boundaries. He planted them with hemlock and white cedar. The trees are still visible today as excellent markers of both former and current boundaries.
Since the state acquired the land, plantations have been established, thinned and pruned; fields have been maintained in grass and shrub condition for a variety of wildlife; studies are being conducted to restore American chestnut; a 200 acre natural area has been established to be kept with no management activity; and the forest in general has been managed for a sustained yield of wildlife habitat and forest products. The Town of Coventry leases a 57-acre area of the forest as a town park.
Today, the objective of the DEP Foresters is to maintain a healthy forest with an equal distribution of age classes of trees from seedling to mature timber. The wildlife is abundant and often visible or audible. Hawks, fox and coyote rival the deer and turkey for use of the varied habitat available |
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| Area Accommodations |
| B&Bs / Inns | | The Tolland Inn - 1790s inn on historic village green. Close to University of Connecticut. Seven guest rooms/suites with private baths, full breakfast. Antiques and hand-made furniture throughout. | | |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| Letterboxing Clues for Connecticut's Nathan Hale State Forest - letterboxing clues for the forest centennial letterbox on Connecticut's American Legion State Forest ... Letterbox Series - Clues for Nathan Hale State Forest Nathan Hale State Forest - the 26th State ... | | Interstate 384 (Connecticut) - Descriptive history and current conditions on Interstate 384 in central Connecticut. Includes ... about the route in the vicinity of Nathan Hale State Forest in Connecticut, and the Scituate ... | | Interstate 84 (Connecticut) - Descriptive history and current conditions on Interstate 84 through Connecticut. ... concerns about the route in the vicinity of Nathan Hale State Forest in Connecticut, and the Scituate Reservoir in ... | | Area Campgrounds | | Odetah Camping Resort
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| Highland Campground
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| Roaring Brook Cooperative Campground
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