HEBRON — Managing a new forest will be the topic of a meeting of the Western Maine chapter of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine on Saturday. It will be held at the registered Tree Farm of Laurie Huntress and Josh Hounsell on the Collins Farm Road, starting at 9 a.m.

While many previous SWOAM meetings have covered managing mature or semi-mature forests, this one will focus on how to begin managing a forest that is just starting from abandoned fields or a recent heavy harvest.

The Huntress/Hounsell Tree Farm has a variety of young forests under management from pole-sized oak and pine to a hard-cut stand of mixed hardwood and softwoods. There also are nearly 400 balsam fir Christmas trees planted on the property.

Josh Hounsell, Laurie Huntress and Laurie’s dad, Fred, have been actively managing the 50 acres of forestland for several years.

The farm is about two miles from Hebron village north on Station Road, a right on the Hebron Center Road and a mile to the Collins Farm road on the left. Signs will be posted.

The gathering is free and open to the public. Coffee and doughnuts will be available at 8:30 a.m. The meeting begins at 9 a.m.