I chose Centennial Woods, a university owned nature preserve in Burlington, as my point of focus for my phenology assignment. It has a long history in Burlington and the land has been used in many different ways. It the past, it has been used for farming, ROTC training, and even for medical school purposes. I chose it mainly due to its close proximity to my current residence hall and because it has a lot to offer. It is a 65 acre plot on campus which borders I-89. The forest features both deciduous and coniferous trees, many streams, fields, wetlands, and boardwalks.The forest gets lots of use from students and residents in Burlington.It features an array of different trails used for walking, running, biking, and more. Often times, students in research classes will visit Centennial woods for academic purposes.
The main entrance of the forest is near the UVM medical center and is marked by a sign that reads “Centennial Woods Natural Area” and a trail map. When in the forest, you may notice is it much quieter and calmer than the surrounding campus and urban area. You’ll hear the sounds of many different birds, the leaves rustling, and the interstate off in the distance. You might see other people using the nature preserve for recreation activities, like running. Common wildlife seen include birds, squirrels, frogs, and rabbits. The experience of the forest is different for everyone. You may find it to be a quiet retreat if you are just going for a leisurely walk, or you may see it differently if you’re going for an intense run. Some students might even view it as an extension of their classroom and research. I am about a 10-minute walk from the forest entrance. I find Centennial woods to be almost a piece of my home. I am from rural southern Vermont and spent a lot of time in the woods growing up. This forest is a lot similar to home and it is nice to have it on campus.
Shown below are my field notes from when I last visited Centennial woods:
