Three new properties conserved in Westport

Continuing with our 11-year partnership in Westport with the Westport Land Conservation Trust (WLCT), Community Conservation Specialist Chris Detwiller recently completed projects that permanently conserve three beautiful properties through the donation of conservation restrictions.

The first two properties, owned by the Bryan and Jansen families, feature 50 acres of woodlands abutting WLCT's 76-acre Old Harbor Wildlife Refuge. Both CRs include trail easements that will expand the Refuge's trail system and allow the public to access a total of nearly 140 contiguous acres of protected open space, including the 11-acre Sherden CR protected by TTOR and WLCT in 2011. Prime Forest Soils are found throughout the entirety of both properties, and multiple vernal pools have been documented.

Field on the Reed Conservation Restriction

The third property is a spectacular 15-acre property located on the East Branch of the Westport River, owned by Douglas Reed. The property features 900 feet of frontage on the river, stunning views, active farmland, and BioMap Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape. Protection of the property also expands on contiguous protected farmland and open space through its connection to the adjacent 80-acre Donald Tripp Farm, protected by an Agricultural Preservation Restriction.

Expanding "On the Land" to include more conservation projects as they happen!

The "On the Land" blog is expanding to include timely reports about The Trustees of Reservations conservation projects as they unfold while continuing to highlight interesting stories about the conservation restrictions under our care. We hope you enjoy this broader view of the full range of our conservation efforts!

The Trustees of Reservations carries out dozens of important conservation projects each and every year, and has permanently protected a remarkable 76,000 acres since it was founded in 1891. That's more than twice the area of the City of Boston, but accomplished through projects in every region of Massachusetts.

Our conservation work includes new properties that we acquire and open to the public -- those 109 reservations across the state like the new Westport Town Farm.


View of the Westport River from the Westport Town Farm

We also secure additions to existing properties -- land that connects to a nearby park, adds a better trail head, or provides a buffer to a fragile pond or scenic view. We call these projects "critical lands" because of their importance to the integrity of what we already own and to the role they play in improving the experience of our visitors.

The Trustees also acquires permanent conservation restrictions on privately-owned land (at present, 370 properties on 20,000 acres)  that contain the same type of exceptional natural areas, historic homes, scenic views, farms or water sources that you'll find on our Reservations.



Langwater Estate, Easton where TTOR is in the process of acquiring a permanent restriction

Finally, we assist state and federal agencies, cities and towns, and other land conservation groups to carry out their projects that result in permanently conserved land. While The Trustees don't hold any interest in the land going forward, our role is often crucial to the success of complex or expensive projects that require our expertise or funding.

We look forward to sharing these stories with you in the days ahead so you can keep up on the latest news from "On the Land" as it happens!

Wildlife Tracking at Hawk Valley Farm CR, Lowell

Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust is hosting an event on a property protected with a co-held conservation restriction in Lowell. The wildlife tracking event is coming Saturday, February 9, 2013 8am-10am (see all their events at http://lowelllandtrust.org/content/calendar-events)

Where: Hawk Valley Farm, 520 Varnum Ave., Lowell

Join another winter adventure at Hawk Valley Farm!  Explore this scenic jewel of Lowell. We are anxious to venture out to this historic property with its abundant signs of wildlife, including deer, fisher, fox, skunk, opossum, and more! Even without snow, there is still plenty to explore as a winter naturalist!  This free event was a huge success last year with so many exciting wildlife scenes and habitats to interpret. Please remember that space is limited, please RSVP. 978-934-0030 OR gwen@lowelllandtrust.org
 
Directions: Please, park at the Pawtucket Elementary School at 425 West Meadow Road, Lowell. Then take a short walk south on West Meadow Road, cross Varnum Avenue, and continue onto Varnum Terrace, where you'll see us excited to welcome you to this event.

Photo courtesy of Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust

Annual Winter Hike series on the Vineyard features CR Properties!

Last week, The Trustees' Islands educator Molly Peach led twenty-six participants to one of the most intriguing historic sites on Martha's Vineyard - the north shore's Brickyard ruins at the mouth of Roaring Brook in Chilmark.  See the Martha's Vineyard Times photos here!  Once a thriving industrial site, the building foundation remains and water wheel are largely grown over by brambles and grape vines, yet bricks can still be found on the shore, and the impressive brick chimney still remains, topped by a tenacious osprey's nest!  A dramatic vista of the chimney and the Elizabeth Islands as a backdrop can be seen from the sand cliffs of the Menemsha Hills Reservation, but the annual guided hike is the rare opportunity to explore up close on this private land. 

This was the first of four hikes which Peach will guide this winter, and continues a long tradition of annual hikes on private Vineyard conservation restriction properties, guided by The Trustees of Reservations.  These are titled the "Saving Special Places Walking Series", and three more walks are scheduled, in February and March.  We are very grateful to the landowners who allow these hikes on their amazing land each year. 

This time of year, you should let a sleeping turtle lie. Who knows the identity of this turtle?

Next up, on Sunday, February 17, comes a walk on another fantastic north shore conservation restriction property, featuring rare species and habitats, and a scenic north shore beach.  Savvy geographers may be able to identify Nashawena Island in the distance, the largest and one of the most unique CR properties protected forever by The Trustees!  

Across the oak canopy and Vineyard Sound to the Elizabeth Islands in a greener season!

The series concludes on March 17th, to the stunning heights of Squibnocket Point, and on March 24th to the peak of Signal Hill in Chilmark, overlooking Squibnocket and Menemsha ponds.  Space is limited, and the walks are very popular, so sign up soon (all three events linked here) to guarantee your spot! 

Beautiful Menemsha Pond.

This Weekend, Sunday January 20 - FREE Invasive Plant lecture at Mass. Horticultural Society's Elm Bank!

Event: WEEDS by Randall Prostak
Location: Massachusetts Horticultural Society at Elm Bank - Putnam Building.
900 Washington Street (Route 16), Wellesley MA.
Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm 
 Click here for web link.

Come visit beautiful Elm Bank in Wellesley this weekend to learn about invasive weeds, from scientist Randall Prostak of the UMass Amherst Extension Landscape and Agriculture Service! 

A little purple loosestrife near wetland edge, trying to learn to climb hills.

Ever wonder what those vines are creeping up your fence and shrouding your yard's edge trees in a strangle hold?   Have you seen those 'beautiful' purple flowers in your local wetlands that seem just a little bit too abundant?   Seen the mile-a-minute vines running rampant in the Blue Hills?  Invasive plants pose a huge threat to our native plant species and ecosystems, and recognizing them is an important awareness for those of us who love the environment and the outdoors.

If you can't attend this weekend's event at the MA Horticultural Society, or just want to delve deeper into the topic, check out The Trustees' "Least Wanted" page for more information and links to many resources on identification and control of these unwanted intruders! 

CR Properties open to the Public, Profile #2: Destruction Brook Woods in Dartmouth, MA

Conservation Restrictions mostly protect private land in Massachusetts.  Since nearly all of these are closed to public access, we ask you to respect the landowners' privacy, and not trespass upon them. 

However, cities, towns, and other land trusts often grant CRs to The Trustees of Reservations, as an extra layer of protection for their conservation land - and most of these are open to the public. These conservation areas provide beautiful vistas, valuable wildlife habitat, protect our wetlands and water quality, and best of all, are open to recreation for everyone to enjoy!  Think of these Special Places that we do not own, yet permanently protect, as honorary additions to our 107 Reservations!

Destruction Brook Woods Reserve - Dartmouth, MA

A Destruction Brook spillway adjacent to Allen's Mill.

Destruction Brook Woods in Dartmouth is over 280 acres of dramatically named land owned by the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) - it is DNRT's largest reserve.  Local historians are unsure of the origin of the name, as Destruction Brook is in fact a very gentle stream overall!  Protection of this land represented a successful cooperative land protection project between DNRT and The Trustees of Reservations.

Threatened by development in the late 1990s, DNRT and TTOR collaborated to raise over $2 million between state funds and generous private donors to secure its protection, part of the Slocum's River project which protected over 1,000 acres in this area of Dartmouth.  DNRT owns the land, while The Town of Dartmouth Conservation Commission and The Trustees co-hold the conservation restriction which further ensures permanent protection of Destruction Brook's high wildlife habitat, rare species, and water quality protection values.  The project helped protect the historic, rural character of the Russells Mills Village area of Dartmouth as well. 

Alice's Spillway drains a pond in Destruction Brook Woods. 

The property's eight miles of trails (click for map) leads the visitor through agricultural field edges, a glacially carved landscape of mature hardwood forests with impressive ledges, punctuated by rare Atlantic Whitecedar stands, wetlands, vernal pools, ponds, an historic farm house site deep in the resurgent forest, and the historic Allen's Mill.  DNRT has even produced a YouTube Video which highlights the beauty of Destruction Brook. 

The restored 17th century Allen's Mill sits at the southern end of Destruction Brook Woods Reserve.

There is so much conservation land to explore in South Dartmouth!  Destruction Brook is just a stone's throw from TTOR and DNRT's jointly owned Slocum's River Reserve, and the state's adjacent Dartmoor Farm Wildlife Management Area, among other nearby conservation areas.  Spend a day exploring  Destruction Brook Woods on foot, or ski or snowshoe this time of year, for a tranquil time (despite the dramatic name) in a deep forest! Don't forget to budget another day to visit Slocum's River as well, to enjoy the sculpture art of 2012's River Project, which you can view until May 2013!

Workshop - Preparing for the Emerald Ash Borer

Workshop: 'Preparing for the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Massachusetts'
Date: Tuesday, December 4, 2012.  Time: 3:00 - 6:00 P.M.
Location:  Doyle Community Park and Center - 464 Abbott Ave, Leominster MA 01453

An unwelcome invasive pest has arrived in Massachusetts - one which poses a major threat to our native ash trees. 

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an insect which has caused billions of dollars in timber damage in seventeen states since it was first detected in Michigan in 2002.  Found in the Berkshire County town of Dalton back in August, Massachusetts is now the eighteenth state with confirmed presence of EAB. 

See the Boston Globe article from September.  The EAB reproduces abundantly, and can spread quickly - and it has a pesky habit of not understanding county boundaries.  As such, the Boston Tree Party has already issued an alert (click here), as it not only threatens ash in our hardwood forests, but many of our urban street trees!  Find out more about EAB identification, resources, and the latest news at the MA Introduced Pests Outreach Project. 
 
Wherever you are in the state, the EAB could soon affect your local forests and trees.  The Trustees of Reservations and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Forest Stewardship Program are hosting a free workshop on the Emerald Ash Borer on December 4, at the Doyle Community Park and Center in Leominster.  Learn how to detect EAB, and what you as a concerned citizen, forester or tree professional, or landowner can do to limit its spread!

Click here for more information and to register!  We encourage our CR landowners to attend this workshop, and learn more about this urgent issue.