Thompson's Field Land Management

TOWN OF HARWICH

732 Main Street

Harwich, MA 02645

CONSERVATION COMMISSION  (508)-430-7538     FAX (508)430-7531

January 2017

The Harwich Conservation Department, along with AmeriCorps Cape Cod and town volunteers, will be gradually thinning out the pitch pines and oaks on the Route 39 side of Thompson’s Field.  The reason behind the thinning of trees is to bring back the maritime shrub land/heathland species which are present such as heath, heather, and bearberry, but are being shaded out by the pines and oaks on the Route 39 side.    Maritime shrub land and heathland is a globally rare habitat.  Already in the past few years since we have been thinning out some of the trees, we have seen the desirable vegetation come back, and bring with it an endangered butterfly, the hoary elfin.  The reason why we are keeping the stumps so high is so it is less likely the tree will stump sprout, so there will be less maintenance involved in maintaining the area in the future.  The stumps will eventually decompose.  This activity is in line with the Thompson’s Field Land Management Plan, which was approved in 1999.  While right now it might not look so appealing, in a few years with proper management it will not only look much better.  We just wanted to let you the citizens know what the work is for in this beloved parcel.