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William L. Hutcheson Memorial Forest


Hutcheson Memorial Forest ©Dwight Hiscano
Hutcheson Memorial Forest © Dwight Hiscano

Why You Should Visit
Nestled amidst suburban sprawl in our state’s densely populated central core lies William L. Hutcheson Memorial Forest, a virgin forest remarkably untouched since European settlement. This natural oasis is considered the birthplace of The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey and stands as the organization’s first conservation project in the state.

As one of the Mid-Atlantic’s exemplary old-growth forests, Hutcheson Memorial Forest appears much as it did when European settlers arrived. Centuries old oaks and hickories dominate the landscape. Dogwoods and mixed shrubs vie for space amongst these ancient giants. Each spring, May apples carpet the forest floor, while in the fall migratory birds rest and find refuge in the tree canopy and acres of surrounding successional buffer fields.

Location
Franklin Township, Somerset County
500 acres

Hours
The preserve is open from dawn until dusk. For more information, contact Rutgers University at 732-932-3388.

Visitation Guidelines

  • No swimming, camping, fires, or alcoholic beverages.
  • Littering and dumping are prohibited.
  • No collecting or trapping.
    Motorized vehicles are prohibited.

Trails
Informal trails wind through the forests and fields.

What to See: Plants
Old growth forests reaching upwards of 80 feet and surrounding successional fields are home to a variety of trees and plants including mixed oaks, hickories, maples, and dogwoods as well as numerous wildflowers.

What to See: Animals
Hutcheson is home to a variety of wildlife. Its fields and forests offer shelter to migratory birds.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Fifty years ago, an unlikely partnership saved this stand of old-growth forest from destruction. Then-owner Thomas Mettlar decided to sell his wooded tract of the Hutcheson site, a parcel where trees had never been felled since Dutch settlers claimed the land in 1701. A citizens’ group rallied to save this natural legacy. Their actions generated nationwide support and funding to preserve the forest. Buoyed by the response to save this treasured woodland, an unlikely ally arose in the fight for preservation. A carpenter’s union, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, raised money to purchase the land, then donated it to Rutgers University to maintain as a trust with The Nature Conservancy. The preserve was named after the union’s then-president, William S. Hutcheson.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Conservancy continues to work closely with Rutgers and Franklin Township to protect this forest and adjoining fields. Each year Rutgers students use the forest and fields as research sites and field laboratories.