Chester Hill Forest

Descriptions

Chester Hill Forest is a partially conserved, mixed wood forest offering well-managed timber, recreational opportunities and a 25-acre parcel suitable for a camp or secluded home site. The property is located in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, a scenic region of rolling forested hills, historic homes and numerous streams and rivers that thread their way through the countryside. The village is less than 25 miles west of Northampton and the Five College Area of central Massachusetts, and Boston is just over two hours drive to the east.

The forest is easily accessible via two paved town roads that bisect the parcel and form an X through the center of the tract. A gravel road beginning off one of these roads is drivable with an SUV and offers access to the 25-acre unencumbered parcel. The terrain is flat to gently sloping on the western portion but gradually increases in slope towards the east side of the parcel. With the exception of a 10-acre marsh and two intermittent brooks the entire tract is well-suited for year-round forestry activities.

The forest supports a white pine/mixed hardwood species composition. The sawtimber is good to average quality and tree heights are good to above average, indicating an excellent growing site for both white pine and mixed hardwoods. A 2013 timber inventory reveals a maturing woodlot with the majority of stems in the 16 to 24 diameter range. There is near-term opportunity for another selection thinning in the upper diameter ranges >24, while still maintaining optimal stocking on the majority of the forest.