Join us for this special opportunity to make a difference for our native Hemlocks!

The Lingering Hemlock Project, a subset of The Nature Conservancy’s “Tree Species in Peril,” aims to locate and selectively breed eastern and Carolina hemlocks with genetic resistance to the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). This insect is invasive in eastern North America and has already contributed to widespread hemlock mortality in much of the southeastern United States.  While strategies such as chemical control are effective in the short-term, longer-term hemlock protection depends on biocontrol and selective breeding to promote hemlock woolly adelgid resistance. In this workshop, Olivia Hall from the Hemlock Restoration Initiative will share more about how to identify a ‘lingering hemlock’ and how to report it when spotted. By detecting these lingering hemlocks that may be more resistant to the damage caused by HWA, we can identify HWA-resistant genotypes to support resistance breeding in eastern and Carolina hemlocks.

We will meet at the Turkey Pen trailhead in Horse Shoe, which is about a 1 mile drive up an unpaved road. We will walk about 2 miles total and will be back at the trailhead by 3:00pm.

There will be a pretty extensive stream crossing near the beginning due to a bridge that is out. It is typically just below knee depth (for a 5’4″ tall woman). Bring waders, water shoes, a change of socks, pants that roll up, trekking poles, and/or anything else that you need to feel comfortable completing this crossing. If conditions make us unable to comfortably cross the stream, we have a backup plan that we can pivot to.

Please dress appropriately for a hike, bring water and whatever else you need to be comfortable.  We will be finding and reporting the lingering Hemlocks we find, so please download the TreeSnap app on your phone ahead of time.

Capacity is limited to 15 participants, and RSVPs are required.  Email Mary, mary@conservingcarolina.org, if you have any questions.