Growing up in the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson in southern Westchester County, Hillside Woods was a personal oasis. Not deep forest, not a virgin tract, but one hundred acres that formed the backdrop of my life — and so many other peoples’ as well.
When I heard about an effort to escort deer out of Hillside Woods, I relished a chance to help mend this broken urban forest, to heal it, to restore what’s been lost over time.
The experience offered so much more as well.
Over the years, with the explosion of the deer population in this small municipality, the animals’ biological need to browse had resulted in an almost total decimation of the forest understory. The lovely critters form a natural part of the local ecosystem, of course, but in large numbers they can ruin a forest.
The Village erected a deer exclosure in Fall 2023 around 30 acres as a way of starting to bring back the health of Hillside Woods. “S” gates at intervals allow people and dogs to walk in and out of the place.
Like any attempt to bring deer out of a wooded area — and the Hastings endeavor modeled itself on many other successful ones —this one represented an ongoing process. A bold new attempt was needed to complement the not-perfect exclosure.
So I joined in the deer drive.
Organizers with the Village had been careful to instruct people in advance about how the process would be managed.
“Now that the exclosure is constructed, we will gently usher deer within the 30 acres of fencing through the exit in its northwest corner and seal it shut. We need 100+ participants to walk in a slow, meditative line from the east side of the exclosure westward.“ Any deer met along the way would be nudged out one remaining gap in the fence.
Questions were natural. What was this experience going to be like? I think everyone who convened in the all-purpose room of Hillside Elementary School wondered that.
Perhaps a few were feeling a little apprehensive. Would we find deer? What would their behavior be? Would they bolt? Would anyone trip, sprain an ankle?
This was a perfectly beautiful day, the last Saturday in winter, with more than a hint of spring in the air.
Daffodils bloomed in the school’s flower beds.
Later, I surveyed volunteers: What was your favorite thing about today?
Seeing the positive community building, said Tom Kenney of Hastings.
Seeing the degree of participation in something I value, preservation of natural spaces and habitat for birds, said Linda Brunner, a Yonkers resident. Ruth Kotecha said, I was involved in protecting Hillside Woods from development in 1989, and I’m just so happy to see that now that we own the woods we’re going to save them.
Community building, agreed Nicholas Reitt. Gene Ruseigno of Yonkers said. All the people chipping in, and the main thing is there are young people here.
The community coming together, said Cat McGrath, who heads up the community group Protect Our Woods.
I’m always excited when I meet a birder, said Bob Sullivan of Philadelphia, because I’m a wannabe birder.
Hiking through the woods was Mahopac resident Greg Montano’s favorite thing about the day. His teenage son agreed, word for word.
Nature enthusiasts gathered from well beyond Hastings’ borders to help. The mayor took part. The videographer for the local cable channel documented.
The head of the rec department attended, as did the chief of police and the local EMT’s.
One cracked beforehand, We hope we won’t be seeing you later!
Before teams of around a dozen people each marched off to the Woods, the scores of volunteers gathered to hear a briefing by Haven Colgate, Chair of the Village Conservation Commission, who spearheaded the project.
What was your favorite thing about today? Jane Davis of Hastings: Just being outside in the woods on a sunny morning.
Then we entered, walking single file along the southern boundary of the Woods.
“Pods” of deer escorts arranged themselves in a loose line, then as a group moved calmly toward the northwest perimeter.
Deer drivers self-selected into two teams. The “steeps” tackled the rock outcroppings to the east of the Park, the hillsides after which Hillside Woods were named.
And there were the “flats,” participants happier on the more level terrain. Lovely weather! someone called to me. A woman joked, The deer aren’t here, they’re editing my flower garden!
I saw a few blooms, most notable for being the only ones along the way.
The fence looked remarkably delicate. Almost pretty. Especially when I realized how crucial that fence would be to bringing back what are called “spring ephemerals,” the first forest flowers of the season. None grow here now, nor have they for many, many years.
I found landmarks everywhere from earlier happy times. Memories of strolling by the Vernal Pond, with its thunderous orchestra of peepers.
Hanging out at the Chimney.
All the trails, so familiar from taking the trails there with my dogs and a lot earlier, roaming with teenage buddies, far from prying adult eyes.
No deer to be found this morning. A good thing! They would now find their suppers in other locales. I found it possible to begin to imagine forest floor leaf-out in the future, the resurgence of greenery and blossoms.
Spirits were high. Friends greeted friends. People made new acquaintances. Randy Paradise said he liked best talking with people I hadn’t met before.
What was your favorite part? Teenager Victor Valentine was definite. The really steep part! Same for Rich Lovejoy: The steep climb!
Being outdoors in really nice weather, said Katie Leune of Elmsford.
Just being with the community — and the sun! said Sharon Kivowitz.
Getting my foot stuck in Vernal Pond! joked Lindsey Taylor, showing off her muddy shoe.
Part of the day’s good feeling clearly derived from fellowship with neighbors, part from the sense of doing the right thing. My favorite part was community togetherness, said Ramsey Faragallah of Hastings. Lucy Corrigan agreed: A sense of small-town community that reminded me of my childhood.
Seeing the community come together to support an environmental effort, said Arthur Magun.
The community aspect, said Elise Zazzara.
Connecting with the people, said Jonathan Billig.
John Zeiger: It was a good introduction for the community to environmental stewardship.
Volunteers gathered garbage as they went.
There was a lot of trash to collect.
Quite a lot.
Mayor Niki Armacost said her favorite part was collecting trash with so many lovely Hastings people.
Other surprises lay amid the leaf litter. Some magic.
Late in the hike a coyote appeared, posing on a boulder above the Vernal Pond before skedaddling away.
Gil Reavill, leader of billy goat group 4, took a moment at the windup on the northern edge of the Woods to declaim an ode he’d penned along the way:
We are the Steeps!
We cover ground in bounds and leaps
When the hills get hillier we get sillier
Let those who prefer the path to be flatter
Go their own way — it doesn’t matter
We are the Steeps! We are the Steeps!
We pray the fates our feets to keeps
Afterwards, pizza in the all purpose room, welcome sustenance for happy but perhaps a bit tired participants. A total of one hundred and one citizens had taken part, as well as numerous Village staffers.
What did organizer Haven like best about the day? She was succinct. The weather and the vibe, she said. Go Hastings!
Jean Zimmerman 