Conservation Projects

As outdoorsmen, the Somerset Sportsman's Club strives to be the best stewards of our land as possible. We have an active Conservation and Forestry Managament plan through Mass Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. A few goals of the plan is to create healthy forests which help combat climate change as well as create better habitat for wildlife.

In 2024 we launched our American Chestnut Restoration Project with the help of The Amercian Chestnut Foundation. Our mission is to help restore this keystone species to our property and hopefully inspire other private land owners and sportsman's clubs to do the same. Along with restoring a historically plentiful species of our woodlands that benefitted multiple wildife species such as deer, wild turkey, black bear and squirrels.... restoring these trees to our New England landscape also helps by adding further tree diversity as well as adding another mast crop / food source for wildife.

This year club members planted 31 hybrid American Chestnut Trees obtained from the American Chestnut Foundation that we started from seed here at our club. We also have over 65 Wild American Chestnut Trees growing on the property from old root systems existing before the blight. We have a goal to assist these trees in reaching maturity by employing various methods and hopefully begin producing nuts again in the future. This will also help keep a wild local genetic strain of the American Chestnut Treesurviving on our property for future study.We plan to continue to plant more trees in conjunction with our forestry plan in the years to come.

How can you help?

1. Click Here to Become a Member fo the American Chestnut Foundation

2.. Visit our local MA/RI Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation for information.

3. Vew many education videos on the TACF's Youtube Channel

3 . Contact us by email at somersetsportsmans262@gmail.com with any inquiries regarding this project here the club.