Cheshire County UNH Cooperative Extension

Tree and Shrub Identification Workshop at Distant Hill
July 19, 2026 | 2:00 - 4:00pm
Distant Hill Gardens, Walpole, NH

Would you like to confidently identify the trees and shrubs you encounter on your walks and hikes? If so, this workshop is for you!
Registration is required. https://extension.unh.edu/event/2026/07/tree-shrub-identification-workshop-distant-Distant Hill Nature Trail

4-H Caterpillar Stroll
July 8, 2026 | 2:00 - 4:00pm
Pisgah State Park, Chesterfield, NH
Join naturalists from The Caterpillar Lab to explore one of our favorite local habitats! We'll explore the caterpillars and insects of early summer as we venture from field to forest to wetland where we will talk about habitat differences, insect roles in our ecosystems, ways we can encourage healthy ecosystems, and see some cool bugs! Registration required.

Pisgah State Park Caterpillar Stroll Join us on a caterpillar walk with the Caterpillar Lab and 4-H at Pisgah State Park.

Never Been to an Extension Summer Twilight Meeting? Here’s What to Expect
Extension offers several summer meetings for farmers

UNH Extension’s Twilight Meetings provide space for farmers and people interested in learning more about farming to gather in person or virtually to learn about specific aspects of running a farm business and timely agricultural topics. Each meeting features a different subject and meetings are held at various locations throughout New Hampshire. No registration is required — just show up to the farm or log into the Zoom meeting! So, why should you attend?

For full details and upcoming twilight meetings, please visit our website: https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2026/04/never-been-extension-summer-twilight-meeting-heres-what-expect

We're hiring!
UNH Extension Seeks a Full Time Field Specialist in Cheshire County

This position is located at UNH Cooperative Extension’s Cheshire County office in Keene NH. As part of the UNH Extension natural resources team, the forestry field specialist conducts county‐based and statewide programming and provides Extension forest resources education and assistance to landowners, citizens, natural resource professionals, forest industry, community groups, volunteers, municipalities, and natural resource organizations.

More information can be found at:
https://extension.unh.edu/unh-extension-seeks-full-time-field-specialist-cheshire-county

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in New Hampshire:
Where are we and what have we learned after 25 years
August 11, 2026 | 6:00 - 8:00pm
Peterborough Town Library | Peterborough, NH

UNH Extension and NH Division of Forests and Lands will discuss the impact of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) over the past 25 years in the Monadnock Region. Presenters will share the status of hemlock in the state, information about hemlock woolly adelgid, and efforts to control this forest pest in the state and beyond.

Professional licensing credits will be offered:
2.0 SAF Category 1 CFEs
NH Pesticide Recertification Credits TBD
More information: https://extension.unh.edu/event/2026/08/hemlock-woolly-adelgid-new-hampshire-where-are-we-what-have-we-learned-after-25-years

⭐ Let’s Build the Community We Want: Starting at 4-H Day of Service: Register by May 22nd!⭐

Communities don’t improve by accident — they improve because people like you get involved.

Friday is your last chance to join the NH 4‑H Day of Service and help create the kind of New Hampshire we all want to live in: caring, connected, and full of possibility.

Take action. Make change. One step at a time.

Mark your calendars, spread the word, and get ready for a day of service, community, and FUN.
https://extension.unh.edu/event/2026/06/4-h-day-service-walk-68-miles-end-68-hours-hunger

It's Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Awareness Week (May 17 - 23rd)! We encourage you to learn about signs and symptoms of EAB, how to prevent the spread, and what you can do to help.

5 Resources for Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week 2026 Keep an eye out for EAB, from May 17—23 and beyond.

Thinking about No-Mow May? Here’s what you should know.

Letting the lawn grow in May can offer short-term support for bees and other pollinators, but the bigger benefit comes from how we manage our landscapes all season long. 🐝🦋

A few simple ways to create better habitat beyond May:

Mow less often: Consider mowing every other week.

Leave a small section of your yard unmown all season.

Eliminate chemicals.

Reduce the lights: Outdoor lights impact bird migration and prevent fireflies from seeing each other’s flashes.

Clean up less: Fewer clean-ups provide food and shelter for all kinds of creatures.

Good stewardship provides much-needed habitat for pollinators, insects, birds, amphibians and other animals, while rewarding us with more biodiversity in our own yards.

Read full article at the link in comments.

April 30 (Thursday) Explore Vernal Pools and Caterpillars! 🐛🔬🐸
10:00am - 1:00pm
Distant Hill Nature Trails
66 March Hill Road
Alstead, NH
Discover larvae of many types and environments with experts from the Caterpillar Lab and 4-H Natural Science program! Exploring "nature's best-kept secret" at Distant Hill Nature Trail in Walpole, get ready to touch slimy and hairy things and see nature coming back to life — up close and personal — after a long winter. Register:

Explore Vernal Pools and Caterpillars! Come explore vernal pools and caterpillars at Distant Hills Nature Trail.