Buck Meadow Recreation Area & Conservation Land, Amherst

Buck Meadow Recreation Area & Conservation Land, Amherst

Amherst, New Hampshire 03031

Official Website
Buck Meadow Recreation Area and Conservation Land map

Birds of Interest

Red-winged Blackbirds, Barred Owls, American Kestrels, Red-tail Hawks, Bald Eagle 

About this Location

The parking lot and trailhead are located at the old Buck Meadow Golf Course clubhouse. The entrance is on NH-101A just west of Veterans Road.

Many years ago the State Highway Department bought and scraped off a huge amount of topsoil to build the elevated local portion of Highway 101A. The deeper portions adjacent to the highway and toward Veterans Road filled in with water then shrubs then large trees forming a habitat we know now as Temperate Swamp habitat hosting turtles and amphibians. A golf course was constructed on the scraped-off area including a man-made central pond, piles of sand that became greens and tees, and drainage canals leading water away from the course. The central area is now a grassy meadow with a shrubby pond and ringed by areas of cat-tail marsh and tree-filled swamp. The ACC will gently continue the man-made theme by enhancing the various habitats for wildlife. This includes mowing the center area only every few years encouraging wildflowers and native grasses for pollinators and bird nesting, food, and cover; not mowing a buffer adjacent to the woods to become tall shrubbery for birds and small mammals; piling brush for small mammal cover and over-wintering; keeping the trail from crossing the central area defeating predators of ground-nesting birds, and keeping a watchful eye out (and clippers sharp!) for intruding invasive plants. 

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Official Website

Last updated October 20, 2023