Some of the Berkshires’ most important and recognizable assets are its beautiful and sprawling landscape and abundant natural resources. One of the amazing people helping to protect and promote these resources is Tad Ames. Tad is the President of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC), a charitable organization that pursues land conservation and stewardship in the Berkshires for public benefit and enjoyment. Currently, Tad and the BNRC are pursuing one of their most ambitious projects yet, the Berkshire High Road.
The High Road is a planned system of trails that would connect all of the Berkshires, creating the web that would effectively sew the county’s towns and trails together. “We want to fully leverage and finish the incredible conservation work that’s been done over the last century by many great people and institutions,” says Tad. “We want to create a new amenity for the Berkshires, for both ecological and economic advancement, and we want to raise nature’s importance in the public imagination. It’s all essential for a healthy future here.”
This proposed network of trails would not only increase hikers’ access to every city and town in the Berkshires, it would dramatically change the way hikers travel the region. Imagine taking a nice stroll through our verdant forests only to emerge right next to your favorite cafe. Or cross country skiing from one end of the county to the next without having to hop in a car thanks to the conveniently located Bed and Breakfasts network the Highroad will collaborate with.
Make sure to visit www.berkshirehighroad.org and take a look at a short video about the High Road. In the space of a couple minutes, you will get a dazzlingly beautiful story of how our social, cultural, economic and environmental destinies can support each other.
However, the High Road is only one part of the great work that Tad and his team do in the region. The BNRC offers a number of free guided hikes throughout the year, provide hikers with some of the most comprehensive trail maps in the region, and above all else, work tirelessly to protect our natural landscape. “In a very tangible way, BNRC’s donors have saved farms from bulldozers, they’ve kept forests intact for wildlife and watershed protection, and they’ve built some wonderfully welcoming trails,” Tad says. “More abstractly, I’d dare to say that we’ve helped bring conservation and communities closer together.”
Tad has been a loud voice in the region for the protection and preservation of our natural resources for years and has been very active in the community. He is the former chairman of the state board of Environmental Management and currently serves on the 1Berkshire Board of Directors. We would like to recognize him for all he does in our region not only making the Berkshires a great place to visit but an even better place to live and play.
