The West Newbury Town Forest
The town forest in West Newbury was established
in 1925 on land which formerly served as the town poor farm. (Town poor
farms were a widely practiced means of welfare throughout New England up
until the end of the 19th century. Responsibility for welfare then shifted
from towns to county or state governments, providing the opportunity for
communities to retain ownership of town farm woodlots and convert them to
town forest).
Over 23,000 trees were planted in this 20 acre
forest.