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Jackson Conservation Commission weighs multi‑year restoration plan for Prospect Farm orchard
Summary
The commission discussed a restoration plan for Prospect Farm on Oct. 6, 2025, after an on‑site assessment found 85–100 apple trees that could be saved or pruned; members discussed animal impacts and a preliminary ballpark budget of about $10,000 and asked staff to get costed recommendations from arborists.
The Town of Jackson Conservation Commission on Oct. 6 discussed a multi‑year plan to restore and maintain the historic Prospect Farm orchard after an on‑site review found a substantial number of trees that could be salvaged.
Brian reported that he and Mike Cormier walked the orchard and “counted 85-100 trees that are able to be saved or pruned,” and that they observed signs of animal use, including bear activity. He said the visit also raised questions about other neglected orchards in town and a desire to identify and preserve interesting apple varieties.
Commissioner Ken Kimball urged a strategy that pairs a larger up‑front investment with selective pruning over two to three years; he suggested a preliminary ballpark budget of about $10,000. Brian said that figure sounded feasible and that he would follow up with the arborists he had consulted to determine whether the estimate was workable and to request specific recommendations and cost estimates.
Members discussed the tradeoffs between immediate, higher‑cost interventions and smaller stopgap measures over time. The commission did not adopt a funding allocation at the meeting; members agreed on the value of preserving genetic variety and of producing a costed management plan for future action.
Next steps: Brian will contact the arborists he met with to request recommendations and cost estimates to bring back to the commission for further consideration.
