WOODSTOCK, Vt.
The Woodstock Inn & Resort in Woodstock, Vt., one of five Kindred properties in the state, has added falconry to its roster of signature outdoor group experiences this summer in partnership with New England Falconry.
Located in the resort’s nearby historic 10,000 square-foot Rutherford Barn surrounded by a 50-acre meadow, New England Falconry at Woodstock Inn & Resort offers groups a chance to get “up close and personal” with birds of prey. Under the watchful eye of Master Falconer Chris Davis (the director and founder of New England Falconry, based in Hadley, Mass.), the collection of six Harris’s hawks, a falcon and an eagle owl are trained for guest experiences that include hawk walks, raptor receptions, and even acting as ring bearers for weddings.
Also this summer, the Woodstock Inn & Resort invites guests to explore the art and techniques of gardening at its robust 2.5-acre Kelly Way Gardens, certified organic by the Vermont Organic Farmers Association. Master Gardener Benjamin Pauly has overseen and nurtured more than 200 varieties of vegetables, 50 types of herbs and edible flowers, 75 berries and orchard plantings, a mushroom glen, and both annual and perennial flowers. Produce from the Kelly Way Gardens provides culinary inspiration for the resort’s menus.
Garden classes can be customized for groups and cover a variety of topics such as floral arranging using the several hundred varieties of cultivated cut flowers, organic gardening fundamentals and seasonal gardening techniques. The classes share a behind-the-scenes look at the partnership between the chef and gardener and gives insight into how the current harvests make it on the menu and to the resort’s tables.
The property has 142 guest quarters and about 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
