- Bartholomew's Cobble
Bartholomew's Cobble is a convert|329|acre|km2|sing=on park in the Ashley Falls area of
Sheffield, Massachusetts that is home to one ofNorth America 's greatest diversities offern species and their allies, as well as abundantwoodland wildflower s.Geography
The place is named for its two rocky
knoll s or "cobbles" that rise above theHousatonic River . These hills consist mostly oflimestone andmarble and have analkaline soil that supports an unusual array offlora . The high point at Bartholomew's Cobble, "Hurlburt's Hill", rises convert|1000|ft|m to a twenty-acre upland field on theConnecticut border that offers panoramic views northward up the Housatonic River Valley.Biodiversity
Away from the cobbles, the landscape changes to open fields dotted with
red cedar s and then toforest . The neutral toacidic soil here supportconiferous andhardwood tree s typical of aNew England transitional forest such asoak ,pine ,birch ,hemlock ,maple , andhickory .The
freshwater marsh es andbeaver pond s of Bartholomew's Cobble are home to many types ofplant s andanimal s. In total, the park's numerous and varied habitats feature more than 800 species ofvascular plant s and more forest types than anywhere else inBerkshire County . For this reason, theNational Park Service designated Bartholomew's Cobble aNational Natural Landmark in 1971.Visiting
The Trustees of Reservations owns and maintains Bartholomew's Cobble. Visitors are welcome year-round during daylight hours. In order to protect the delicate ecology of the area, nopet s are allowed.Bartholomew's Cobble has five miles (8 km) of moderately difficult
hiking trails as well as a small Visitor's Center and Natural History Museum. The Trustees of Reservations offers guided natural historycanoe tours led by expert naturalists with proceeds supporting conservation work at Bartholomew's Cobble includingwildlife research , protectingendangered species , and restoring nativehabitat s.References
* [http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/277_bartholomew_s_cobble.cfm The Trustees of Reservations: Bartholomew's Cobble]
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