The story behind the trail named "Two Rod Road"

You can explore the conserved areas of Estabrook Woods in Carlisle along many public hiking trails, but one path name is quite different from most -- "Two Rod Road."  This road dates from 1774 and was originally named for its width -- with two rods, or 33 feet, separating the stonewalls bordering much of the trail.

You can see these stone walls as you hike the Two Rod Road trail and enjoy this area protected with numerous CRs. Start from The Trustees of Reservations Malcolm Preserve managed with the Carlisle Conservation Foundation, and check out the trail maps from the Town trails committee.

Memorial Day Canoe Trip -- near Bart's Cobble and CRs along the Housatonic

If you sign up for the canoe trip along the winding Housatonic this Memorial Day weekend (clicker HERE to learn more and register), you will enjoy the beauty of this meandering river as it passes through agricultural fields and floodplain forests, some of which are protected with conservation restrictions held by The Trustees. As is the case with many of our reservations, the landscape surrounding Bartholomew's Cobble is protected by restrictions with the property owned and cared for by private farmers and landowners.

On this tour, you'll learn about the river's history and what is happening to restore some of its most precious habitats and species from its upper reaches in Pittsfield, through Massachusetts and into Connecticut. Paddles, life preservers, and boats are provided. Please pre-register.

Protected farm along the Housantonic River

Answer to mystery structure found on monitoring visit...

Stumped? Well, here is a more elaborate version of the same structure we found on the conservation restriction land, this one having been built and filmed for a tv commercial ...(click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c84C6YZirzE if you don't see the video below)

Can you identify this structure?

Occasionally, we come across something on land protected by a conservation restriction (CR) held by The Trustees that we have never seen before. It's part of what makes monitoring CRs so interesting. What we discovered this week left us scratching our heads....can you tell what it is? Stumped? Check in next week for the answer ...

Lady's Slippers

Visiting conservation restrictions in the spring often yields welcome surprises like these Pink Lady's Slippers (Cypripedium acaule) found growing beneath a stand of pine trees on conserved land in Greater Boston. This species of orchid, also known as Stemless Lady's-slipper, or Moccasin Flower,  is not listed as an endangered or threatened species likes its relatives the Showy Lady's Slipper and Rams Head Lady Slipper, but nevertheless is a beautiful addition to the woodland landscape.