"Fall Old Forest Film Series" begins

As part of America's 250th anniversary celebration, a group of Connecticut organizations will co-sponsor a "Fall Old Forest Film Series" featuring four New England Forests films.

 

500-year-old blackgum swamp

Nearly all forest land in the six New England states has been logged, often repeatedly, since European settlement. Far less than 1% remains as "primary" (uncut) forest; the rest is "second growth", typically less than 120 or so years old. Such young forest does not function ecologically as efficiently as much older forest does. A walk in one of our few small remnant old forests opens one's eyes to the beauty of what Nature created as these woodlands evolved over the millenia, and fosters awareness of just how important intact, Nature-managed old forests are to the ecology of our only home planet. These films document that importance, and feature appearances by a number of ecologists, as well as scenes from some of New England's most impressive old forests.

The film series will be held at the Simsbury (CT) Public Library on Thursday evenings, one per month, and is presented in partnership with New England Forests, Real Art Ways, Simsbury Grange, and the Avon, Canton, Granby, Simsbury and Traprock Ridge Land Trusts. 

 

 

The first film of the series will be "The Lost Forests of New England", to be screened on Thursday, September 17, 2026. This film is the story of central New England's old-growth forests... what they once were, what happened to them since European settlers arrived, and what remains of them today. Characteristics of our primitive forests will be highlighted, as well as their many ecological values.

There will be a brief reception at 6pm, followed by the one-hour film at 6:30 and a Q&A session with filmmaker Ray Asselin and Trinity College Professor Susan Masino after the screening. 

Admission is free and open to the public. The library is located at 725 Hopmeadow St. in Simsbury, CT.