In cooperation with the American Chestnut Foundation, OSV is planting two blight-resistant chestnut trees at the top of the Pasture Walk.  Visitors are invited to attend.

The trees are a cross between the American and Chinese chestnut tree, and are resistant to the blight that wiped out the American chestnut tree population early in the 20th century. 

Here is some historical background provided by OSV curator Tom Kelleher:

In the 1800s, as many as one in four trees in this area was an American chestnut (Castanea dentata).  Wood from these tall, straight trees resists rot and is ideal for fences and carpentry.  Every fall the meaty nuts fed both man and beast.  But in the early 1900s a fungal disease (chestnut blight) killed almost all the mature American chestnut trees. 

Old Sturbridge Village and the American Chestnut Foundation hope to bring the American chestnut back to the eastern woodlands, returning the forest to its appearance centuries ago.  By crossing American chestnut trees with naturally blight-resistant Chinese chestnuts, the ACF created a tree that is 15/16th American chestnut.  It looks and grows like American chestnut, but has the blight-resistant genes of the Chinese chestnut.  These two small seedlings are the first step in restoring the majestic American chestnut to our forests.