Bartholomew's Cobble facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bartholomew's Cobble
Bartholomew's Cobble Location in Massachusetts
Location	Massachusetts, United States
Established	1946
Operator	The Trustees of Reservations
Website	[1]

Bartholomew's Cobble is a special natural area in southwest Massachusetts. It's about 329-acre (1.33 km²) big. This place is a National Natural Landmark, which means it's a very important natural site.

It's located in a village called Ashley Falls, right next to Canaan, Connecticut. The preserve is home to over 800 different kinds of plants. It has the most types of ferns in North America. It also has the most different kinds of living things in all of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. You can also find many bobolinks, which are birds that nest on the ground, living here. Bartholomew's Cobble was officially named a National Natural Landmark in October 1971.

The preserve has two rocky hills called "the Cobbles." It also includes flat land along the Konkapot River and Housatonic River. There are also fields where hay is grown and animals graze. You can find meadows and a hill called Hurlburt's Hill, which is 1,000-foot (300 m) tall. From Hurlburt's Hill, you can see amazing views of The Berkshires, the Taconic Mountains, and the Housatonic River Valley.

The Trustees of Reservations, a group that protects natural places, has owned and managed this land since 1946. You can explore the preserve on hiking trails. There's also a visitor center and museum. Rangers and staff even lead fun canoe trips on the Housatonic River during certain times of the year.

History of Bartholomew's Cobble

The word Cobble comes from a German word, kobel or koble. This word usually describes a small, rocky, round hill that is exposed to the elements.

Early Owners and Names

The land was first home to the Mahican tribe. Later, Colonel John Ashley settled here. Ashley Falls is named after him. Colonel Ashley built a house near the Cobbles. This house, the Colonel John Ashley House, is now a historic site. It is also managed by The Trustees of Reservations.

The name "Bartholomew's Cobble" comes from a family named Bartholomew. They owned the property after Colonel Ashley. In 1838, Wyllis Bartholomew bought the Colonel John Ashley house and some land. He owned it until he passed away in 1846. His son, Hiram, then inherited it. Hiram sold it to his son, George, in 1852. George farmed the land for many years. The area became known as Bartholomew's Cobble during George's time.

Before 1946, the property was used for farming and grazing animals. In 1946, The Trustees of Reservations took over the land. More land was added to the preserve between 1963 and 2000. This happened through more than ten purchases and donations.

Amazing Plants and Animals (Biodiversity)

Bartholomew's Cobble has a huge variety of plants and animals. Several things make this possible.

Special Location and Rocks

First, its location means it has plants and animals that are usually found further north or south. Second, the preserve is where two different natural areas meet. These are the marble valley lowlands of The Berkshires and the Taconic uplands.

Third, the Cobbles themselves are made of two different kinds of rock. One is quartzite, which is an acidic rock. The other is marble, which is an alkaline rock. This creates different soil types right next to each other. This allows many different kinds of ferns and plants to grow close together.

Ferns and Flowering Plants

Some of the ferns you can find here include the walking fern, maidenhair spleenwort, and mountain spleenwort. Other ferns are the maidenhair fern, bulblet fern, and marginal woodfern. You might also see polypody, ostrich fern, and evergreen woodfern.

Many beautiful flowering plants also grow here. These include red columbine, herb Robert, and northern prickly ash. You can also find bloodroot, spring beauty, and bergamot. Other plants are mayapple and round-lobed hepatica.

Fields, Forests, and Rivers

West of the Cobbles, you'll find open fields where hay is grown. These fields have eastern red cedar trees scattered around. Beyond the fields are forests with trees like red oak and eastern hemlock. Other trees include yellow birch, shagbark hickory, sugar maple, and black birch. A rare plant called the great blue lobelia also grows in these higher areas. The hay fields are carefully managed to protect bobolinks, which nest on the ground.

Along the Housatonic River and Konkapot River, there are oxbow lakes and wetlands. You'll also see open pastures and forests along the riverbanks. Animals like the great blue heron, bobcat, and New England cottontail live here. Fish like the northern pike swim in the rivers. You might even spot a bald eagle. Trees like eastern cottonwood, American sycamore, and black willow grow along the water. You might also see stinging nettle.

Bird Paradise

Bartholomew's Cobble is a very important place for birds that are migrating. Over 250 different kinds of birds have been seen here. These include the bank swallow, bobolink, and bald eagle. You might also spot a red-tailed hawk, great blue heron, great egret, wood duck, or pileated woodpecker.

Things to Do and Learn

Bartholomew's Cobble is located on Weatogue Road in Ashley Falls. It is open from sunrise to sunset. To protect the delicate nature of the area, please do not bring pets.

Hiking and Visitor Center

There are over 5 miles (8.0 km) of hiking trails. Some trails are a bit challenging. One popular trail is The Ledges Trail. This trail has signs that help you learn about the area as you walk.

The visitor's center and museum are great places to learn more. They have displays about the area's natural and human history. You can see photography, art, and even stuffed animals and birds that live nearby.

Guided Tours and Conservation

The Trustees of Reservations offers guided tours led by naturalists. These experts can teach you all about the plants and animals. The money from these tours helps protect Bartholomew's Cobble. It supports important work like wildlife research and controlling invasive species. It also helps protect endangered species and restore natural habitats.

Gallery

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  Visitor Center

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  Visitor Center Interior

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  Cobble trail

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  Maidenhair spleenwort and moss growing on Cobble ledge