Stop 12 Foresters Trail
In the winter of 2025, strong winds toppled this large American beech creating a canopy gap. A canopy gap is defined as an opening in the main forest canopy. When standing, the wide crown of the beech created shade which favored the growth of tree species that could persist in low light, including oaks, hickories, sugar maple, and other beech. Now that the shade is gone, these species will respond to the available light by growing larger and filling in the canopy opening. These sunny conditions also provide the opportunity for seeds of shade intolerant species such as yellow-poplar, black cherry, and red maple to blow in, germinate, and grow.