Event
The Lost Forests of New England
Simsbury Public Library will host the Fall Old Forest Film Series in celebration of America’s 250th. The series explores the beauty and importance of New England’s old-growth forests and is presented in partnership with New England Forests, Real Art Ways, Simsbury Grange, Avon, Canton, Granby, Simsbury and Traprock Ridge Land Trusts, and other community partners.
Films will be shown one Thursday each month. Each evening begins with a reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by a one-hour film at 6:30 and a brief Q&A with Ray and Susan after the screening.
Register here to attend.
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What were New England’s woodlands like before 1600? What do the small old-growth remnants look like today, and what special values, if any, do they hold?
“The Lost Forests of New England,” a one-hour documentary film by New England Forests, addresses these and other questions in an effort to bring clarity to a subject that is often lost in the mists of time. The film tells the story of central New England’s pre-settlement primeval forests, factors that led to the nearly complete clearing of those forests, and the discovery of remnants of those wonderful woodlands.
The film features key scientists and naturalists associated with the discovery and study of New England’s remaining old-growth woodlands. These experts discuss the structure, ecology, history, and value of New England’s oldest forests, and their prospects. Producer Ray Asselin, a naturalist and filmmaker from Wilbraham, Massachusetts, narrates.
The audience is treated to a visual tour of woodlands that have endured for centuries, through compelling images that compare and contrast the old-growth sites with today’s highly altered landscape. The result is a side-by-side comparison between original and reshaped woodlands that makes a strong case for preserving the ancient remnants.
This film is intended for the general public, but will serve the needs of resource managers, conservationists, and environmental interpreters alike.
