Warwick Preserve
Westmoreland, NH

Long-Spurred Violet, one of many wildflowers to be seen at Warwick Preserve. © Eric Aldrich Photo/TNC

36 acres in Cheshire County, Westmoreland, New Hampshire

Warwick Preserve is on the southwest shoulder of the 1,000-foot Butterfield Hill in southwestern New Hampshire. Its many high rock outcrops provide exceptional views of the Partridge Brook watershed and the Connecticut River Valley to the west.

The terrain is rugged, ascending from 480 feet at East Edge Road to 900 feet at the preserve's northwestern edge, within a distance of 2,000 feet. There are forty foot high outcrops with talus slopes at their bases.

Residual limestone materials in the bedrock have led to the development of rich soils in places. In combination with the preserve's rough terrain and its sixty years of undisturbed growth, the soils have fostered a particularly rich diversity of plant life. The preserve's overstory is a mature mixed deciduous and coniferous forest of hemlock, white pine, sugar maple, red oak, beech, and basswood. Other hardwood species present are white oak, shagbark hickory, paper birch, black birch, white ash, butternut, hophornbeam, hawthorn, aspen, alder, and two more uncommon species, round-leaved dogwood and mountain maple.

Warwick Preserve also supports a large concentration of wildflowers considered uncommon in New Hampshire. Broad beech fern, millet-grass, squawroot, showy orchids, long-bracted orchis, spotted wintergreen, spring beauty, maidenhair spleenwort, Dutchman's-breeches, and long-spurred violet are among the unusual species that inhabit the Warwick Preserve.

The preserve was a gift to The Nature Conservancy in 1965 from Ruth C. Warwick and her daughter, Louise C. Hunninen. It is now open for passive recreational, scientific, and educational uses. In 1981, the Warwick Preserve Committee laid out a trail for the preserve. We request that you remain on the trail in order to minimize erosion, and to protect the many unusual plant species. Sturdy walking shoes are highly recommended for all visitors.

Directions:

• From Route 9 take Route 12 north for 6.4 miles, bringing you to east Westmoreland.
• Take a left onto South Village Road, which you will follow for 3.7 miles before arriving in the village of Westmoreland.
• From here take a right onto Route 63 and travel 0.9 mile to arrive at Warwick Preserve access point.
• Parking space for three to four vehicles is available, just South of a small white-railed bridge.