Since its formation in 1982 by Mr. and Mrs. James Dudley, Highstead has developed as a sanctuary for the study and appreciation of woodland plants and habitats. The past two decades have witnessed remarkable growth and activity at Highstead that have yielded an attractive landscape, excellent facilities and a range of effective programs, including:
- one hundred fifty acres of diverse woodland, meadow, pond, and swamp habitat;
- the timber-frame "barn" headquarters that provides office, lecture, work, greenhouse, library and herbarium space;
- more than two miles of trails, boardwalks, and a loop walk that expose visitors to the varied habitats as well as the Native Tree and Shrub, Kalmia, Azalea, and Clethra collections;
- a growing base of ecological and conservation studies based on permanent plots, large experiments, GIS, and historical research conducted in collaboration with local, regional and national groups including local land trusts, The Nature Conservancy, and the Harvard Forest at Harvard University; and
- research demonstrations and diverse lecture, workshop, walk, art, and hands-on programs for visitors, collaborators and members.
Looking to the Future
In 2005 the Highstead Board made a decision to build on Highstead's success by initiating a new effort to engage in meaningful ways in the conservation of woodlands and natural landscapes at local (Redding, CT and surrounding area), regional (southern New England and New York), and national scales. This effort will involve physical growth , as much of the adjacent land and facilities developed by the Dudleys will be merged with those of the arboretum, as well as the expansion and development of personnel, programs, and infrastructure. New programs are anticipated to build on established activities, including
- Woodland Internships that offer research and educational opportunities in conservation to undergraduate students;
- Woodland Fellowships that allow professionals and academics to pursue scholarship and innovative applications in diverse areas of conservation;
- Woodland Workshops that facilitate interactions and the acquisition and sharing of critical knowledge within and among conservation-minded groups;
- Woodland Conversations in which leading experts in plant, wildlife, and landscape conservation and ecology share their knowledge with audiences at Highstead;
- Woodland Studies conducted by Highstead staff, interns and associates to address critical questions and to provide essential information and tools in broad areas of conservation and ecology; and
- Woodland Conservation that engages the growing Highstead staff in promoting and enhancing the outreach, land protection, and conservation management efforts espoused in the Wildlands and Woodlands effort and other regional conservation activities.
With leadership provided by Highstead staff, members of the Highstead Board, and outside experts, the next few years will be a time of transition and development as the scope of these programs are defined, new activities are initiated, and Highstead continues to grow and develop in quality and its societal contributions.
