Send us your events; see full listings online Readers and event organizers are encouraged to send details about upcoming outings and outdoor-related events to Rogue Valley Times outdoors reporter Shaun Hall at shall@rv-times.com or 2 East Main St., Medford OR 97501. Brief, to-the-point descriptions are best. Photographs can be helpful. See full Outdoors Adventures listings at rv-times.com/outdoors.

The city of Ashland is inviting the public to try out and comment on new park seating arrangements known as “conversation clusters.”

The seating arrangements, part of a demonstration project, allow users to face one another, in contrast to the usual arrangement of benches facing outward toward a more distant view.

“Face-to-face conversations provide more engagement,” said Anne Bellegia, co-chair of the Liveable Ashland Alliance.

The city is testing three different arrangements in three parks:

• In Lithia Park, on the lower lawn facing Winburn Way, park users may move around a set of 20 stacking chairs.

• In Garfield Park, at East Main and California streets, a semi-circle of three fixed benches face a view of Grizzly Peak.

• In Glenwood Park, at Glenwood Drive and Ashland St., a circle of four fixed benches are near the center of the park.

Leslie Eldridge, interim parks director, said the moveable chairs in Lithia Park are the biggest challenge.

“We are trusting the community to use the chairs there and leave them for other park users to enjoy,” she said. “However, if people remove the chairs from the park or move them to other locations, we won’t be able to replace them.”

As of last week, the chairs were still in place, according to Isleen Glatt, senior services superintendent for the city, which announced the arrangements Oct. 30 and asked the public to comment via a survey once they had visited one or more of the locations.

“We’ve had a lot of positive verbal comments so far, but only a few survey responses so far,” Glatt said. “I will be sharing the survey results after the survey closes.”

Comments are being taken through Dec. 17. Go to surveymonkey.com/r/ConversationClusters or call 541-488-5342 to request a survey.

Hike longer, flatter Upper Table Rock trailThe U.S. Bureau of Land Management has reopened the trail at Upper Table Rock after a month’s worth of work that resulted in some trail sections that are now less steep and a quarter mile longer. The trail to the top is now 1½ miles long.

Workers used a small tracked vehicle to haul in a significant amount of gravel — the equivalent of about 15 dump truck loads — and place it on the trail in order to help reduce erosion and mud.

“Upper Table Rock is an important area for many people around the valley,” Jared Nichol, Butte Falls field manager for the BLM, said, according to an agency announcement. “We are excited to be able to provide a safer, more enjoyable experience — with some new views!”

Funding for the work was provided through the Secure Rural Schools Act and authorized by the Western Oregon Resource Advisory Committee.

To get to the trailhead, drive north from Medford on Table Rock Road, turn right on Modoc Road and continue for 1 mile to the trailhead.

Cut a Christmas tree, help thin the forestThe public may now obtain permits to cut personal-use Christmas trees on federal forest land, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The permits cost $5 per tree, but are free for fourth-graders who complete an online activity at everykidoutdoors.gov.

Permits can be purchased online and at BLM and U.S. Forest Service offices, along with participating local businesses. To buy online, go to forestproducts.blm.gov or recreation.gov. Free maps are available showing where trees may be cut. Digital maps are available at go.usa.gov/xeDWs.

Trees that are cut on BLM land must be less than 12 feet tall, within 12 feet of another tree and leave behind a stump of a foot or less. They may not be cut within 200 feet of highways, campgrounds or developed areas.

By cutting trees, people are helping to thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees, contributing to overall forest health, according to the agency.

On U.S. Forest Service land, people are not allowed to cut trees within 300 feet of streams and bodies of water or within 150 feet of highways, picnic areas, campgrounds or developed areas. They also may not cut trees within sno-parks, wilderness areas, wild and scenic corridors, national monuments, research natural areas, areas of critical environmental concern and developed recreation areas. They also may not cut within active timber sales or areas planted with new trees.

Trees cut on Forest Service land may not exceed 12 feet in height and stumps may not exceed one foot in height, although the agency doesn’t require another tree to be within 12 feet. People should cut down the entire tree and take the whole tree.

People should be prepared for adverse weather and road conditions. They are advised to carry tire chains, a shovel and flashlights, along with a first aid kit, water and food. They should wear gloves and boots and bring a saw and a rope to tie down cut trees.

Help remove wildlife-unfriendly fencing at Rogue River PreserveThe Southern Oregon Land Conservancy is seeking volunteers to help remove farm fencing at the Rogue River Preserve near Eagle Point on Nov. 22 or Dec. 13.

Work parties recently removed 1,000 feet of fencing at the preserve, which can be dangerous to wildlife. One of the parties found a dead deer entangled in fencing. A perimeter fence will be replaced with a wildlife-friendly fence.

Those interested in helping out may contact kristi@landconserve.org. Contact the conservancy at 541-482-3069.

Readers and event organizers are encouraged to send details about upcoming outings and outdoor-related events to Rogue Valley Times outdoors reporter Shaun Hall at shall@rv-times.com or 2 East Main St., Medford OR 97501. Brief, to-the-point descriptions are best. Photographs can be helpful. See full Outdoors Adventures listings at rv-time.com/outdoors.