Highland Farm Preserve Winter Ferns with the York Land Trust
On Saturday December 13, 2025 I went on a Winter Fern Hike with Anna DiChiara of the York Land Trust at the Highland Farm Preserve on Route 91 in York. I have past this property many times taking the short cut back toward South Berwick from York but never made time to stop. The group was a great size and all seemed pretty well prepared. It was cold but not as cold as it had been and the trail, though packed down, wasn't particularly icy. Anna, our naturalist, told me in an email later that a couple of years ago she had some medical issues that caused her to rethink her life purpose. She decided to pursue the Maine Master Naturalist program and, although this was her first hike, she carried herself with calm confidence, sharing insights with ease and demonstrating a deep understanding of nature. Her knowledge and poise made the experience unforgettable for everyone involved. If you've spent any time with a fern identification key, you'll see that the first s...