Friends of M.F. Correllus State Forest

On Thursday, August 3, from 10-12 AM, the Friends of Correllus State Forest and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation will hold a walk celebrating the extraordinary biodiversity of the Forest. Collaborating in the walk also will be the Vineyard Conservation Society (VCS) and BiodiversityWorks. Each organization has a long association of advocacy and support for the Forest. Parking will be made available at Gate 18.

The 5300 acre Forest began as the Martha’s Vineyard Heath Hen Reservation in the early 1900’s with several hundred acres dedicated to saving the Heath Hen, on what was then known as the Great Plains, the glacial sand plain in the heart of the Island. This pioneering effort to save the Heath Hen failed, but led to the establishment of the Martha’s Vineyard State Forest, now known as the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, honoring its first, long-serving Superintendent.

Bob Woodruff, former Executive Director of VCS, who organized the Friends of Correllus in 2019, describes the Forest as the “emerald in the heart of the Island’s necklace of preserved conservation lands.” The Forest is believed to have the largest assemblage of State and federally listed species of plants, insects, and birds of any property owned by the Commonwealth. 

The Walk will be at Willow Tree Bottom, accessed by Gate 18, off the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road. The group will walk to the Heath Hen memorial kiosk and statue, adjacent to the glacial stream bed frost bottom, approximately three-quarters of a mile. Participants are encouraged to bring their own water, insect repellent, and sun protection. 

Participating in the walk will be Island naturalists, geologists, botanists, entomologists to help identify the flora and fauna, and describe the rare coastal heathland ecosystem of the Forest. 

Conor Laffey, Superintendent of the Forest will open the session with an introduction to the Forest. 

The Gate 18 entrance will be well-marked. Drivers are urged to use extreme caution in entering and exiting, as cars may be traveling at excessive speed in this area.