Have you ever been pleasantly surprised when you wandered into the woods and found trilliums and woodland lilies growing in the understory? Or felt tensions fade as you cross-country skied through an evergreen forest during the winter? There is increasing scientific evidence that frequent visits to natural areas make us happier and healthier, even when those visits are brief. A walking trail, woodland flower gardens, or a wildlife viewing point can be developed on less than an acre, so whether quiet beauty or vigorous exercise is your preference, you can create a stress free zone right outside your back door.

You can improve your woodland for outdoor recreation if you:

• Create or maintain trails for hiking, riding, biking, bird-watching, hunting, cross-country skiing, etc.
  
  
• Plant or maintain forested buffers along lakes and streams, improving water quality for fishing, swimming, and other water sports.

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