Stout Memorial Woodland

Stout Woods is a 35.2 acre property that is entirely old growth. There is no evidence that it was ever logged for timber or grazed. As such, Stout is of exceptional quality. The property is a botanically diverse mesic woodland with an overstory largely composed of sizable oaks (white and northern red). Large hickories, sugar maples, and American beeches are seen in abundance as well. The trees have not been officially dated, but the largest trees in Stout Woods are likely to be around 200 years old. The most recent tree inventory data we have is from 1985, and the largest tree that data mentions is a 34.3 DBH white oak. Given white oak’s growth rate of 5, and accounting for the 40 years since that measurement was taken, that tree is likely to be approximately 211 years old.

The midstory is comprised primarily of sugar maples and beeches, an indication that the forest is entering its climax phase. The understory is thick with pawpaw, spicebush, and gooseberry. A dense mix of native wildflowers blanket the woods in the spring. Numerous high C-value plants can be found at Stout, such as large white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), glade fern (Homalosorus pycnocarpos), and Canada waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense). There is one C-value 10 species at Stout Woods, Carex bromoides.

There are also numerous accounts of mature forest-associated fauna species such as barred owls, pileated woodpeckers, and southern flying squirrels. This site contains several acres of forested wetland. There is a 0.33 acre wetland within Stout Woods that is currently filled with predominantly Carex lacustris. This species has not yet been observed on any other part of the property.

There are several other small patches of observed vernal sites largely on the eastern half of the property. Both documented and observed wetland sites have been known to support many different species of amphibians throughout the year including spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer), western chorus frogs (P. triseriata), and gray tree frogs (Hyla versicolor). In addition to vernal pools, several ephemeral streams run through the property. These streams lead into the 0.33 acre wetland and observed vernal pools.

The property has been protected as Classified Forest since the early 1920’s. The Stout family wanted to keep the forest as pristine as possible and, as such, never logged it. It is due to the Stout family that Stout Memorial Woodland remains an old growth forest.