Marshall Phillips Forest

Ranch Description

Marshall Phillips Forest is a Champlain Valley forest, offering fine timber stands, recreational and residential opportunities, unique wildlife and generous road frontage. The Champlain Valley in western Vermont is a rolling landscape of fertile farms, small towns and working forests. Lower elevations and flatter terrain, as well as adjacency to the lake, support a different mix of plant and animal species than the predominantly upland terrain in the rest of the state.

The property offers a variety of terrain and habitats suitable for residential development (seasonal or year-round), hiking and nature viewing, hunting and forest management. In the center of the property are 85 acres of wetland associated with an unnamed brook. This rich ecosystem likely hosts a variety of wildlife and plant species, an exciting exploring opportunity for the nature enthusiast. An elevated peninsula near the wetland would be an easily accessible and an attractive spot for a camp or year-round home. On the eastern edge of the property, one can access a highly scenic area known as “The Ledges.” Here, a towering stand of hemlocks slopes steeply upward toward rocky outcrops. Walking under the canopy of large trees with exposed rock faces looming above creates a medieval forest feel.

The timber resource has been professionally managed by the ownership throughout their tenure since the 1950’s. Over this period, thinnings have occurred to improve species composition and stem quality. The forest is dominated by white pine, hemlock and hardwood associates common for the area. While many age classes are present, the overstory is primarily dominated by a maturing, largely overstocked resource dominated by white pine. No recent timber inventory data is available; however, based on a 2008 inventory and field observations, Capital Timber Value is likely close to $122,000 property wide. The timber resource offers an excellent opportunity for woodlot management and long-term timber appreciation.