Barrington Con Com: Is it the Peach Orchard Trail or Green Hill?



I live in Barrington, NH, a town that really values its green spaces, and I’m proud to be part of that effort. Barrington has made it a priority to have new housing projects designate a part of their plan to stay undeveloped. For example, the recent Stone Arch at Green Hill project includes land at the top of Green Hill which is set aside for conservation. This site includes part of Old Green Hill Road (class 6).




On Saturday, April 18, I joined the Barrington Trails group for a hike which started at the town hall, as this is a better spot for parking several cars than the top of the hill. Jack Gale led the group and shared some background about the land’s history and how it became protected. It was a good-sized group including some folks from the development project itself. We used the paved roads to walk up to the trailhead.


As is common in Barrington, parts of the trail were marshy. We crossed a small two-board bridge over some very mucky areas and carefully stepped over Old Greenhill Road. 





Spring was in full swing, with plants just starting to grow and red maple trees dropping their flowers. I took a bunch of close-up photos with my new macro lens, capturing mosses and fungi that look especially photogenic this time of year.




Near the top of the hill, a stone wall marks what seems to be the northeast property boundary. While we were hiking, it was a bit annoying to see someone on the other side riding ATVs.




The trail itself forms a sort of squared-off 'A' shape, with one leg leading into the woods and the other heading back down toward the town hall. We took a clockwise route around the top and then followed the trail back to where we started. 





The trails are well-marked with helpful maps at key turns making navigation easy. Throughout the property, there are signs of past use—large old stumps and remnants of sheep fencing. We also saw a big shagbark hickory and what John Wallace hopes might be the county’s Big Tree Champion Striped Maple. John also placed second nails in some trail markers as he had rationed them when installing the blazes.  




With Earth Day coming up on Wednesday, April 22, the development project was holding a community trash pickup. On our way out of the woods, we passed some children collecting trash in bags that were surprisingly full.


Barrington Conservation Commission does great work. I am always glad when I can attend their events and show my support with photographs. And to celebrate Earth Day with them – Bonus!









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