What’s New at Wildlands
Annual Fencing Goes up at Shifting Lots
In preparation for the expected uptick in visitation at Shifting Lots Preserve, Stewardship Manager Erik Boyer and Wildlands volunteer and board member Marilynn Atterbury spent a day out on the property this past week installing temporary fencing along the dunes. This work is done in tandem with the Friends of Ellisville Marsh, who install fencing along the front portion of the property in order to protect the nesting sites of piping plovers and least turns.
In addition to creating space around the nesting sites to prevent scaring the birds away, the fencing also helps visitors avoid accidentally stepping on their eggs when walking along the shore. Just as we ask visitors to stay on trail at our wooded preserves, we ask that if you visit the property, please be mindful that this area is an important habitat for the survival of these creatures and keep out of the fenced-off areas. As in past years, this fencing will remain up until October.
If you’d like to learn more about threatened shorebirds at Shifting Lots and Cape Cod, you can check out the recording of our recent Zoom presentation on our website: https://wildlandstrust.org/wildlands-online.
Volunteer Spotlight: Cindy Letourneau
Recently, Land Steward Eamon Horrigan interviewed one of Wildlands’ Adopt-A-Preserve volunteers and outdoor enthusiast, Cindy Letourneau, to discuss Halfway Pond Conservation Area and her volunteer work at Wildlands:
Cindy in front of the Mashpee River at Mashpee River Reservation.
When and how did you first learn about Wildlands Trust?
We moved to Plymouth in 2015 and I think we found out about Wildlands Trust through the local paper and became members. We first went out to a Wildlands property on a Post Feast Waddle with Malcolm. We have enjoyed that hike three times now, as have our grandchildren, who have also come twice. We definitely missed it this past year though.
How long have you been a part of Adopt-A-Preserve (AAP)?
I just started in July because the pandemic finally gave me the gift of time.
How did you discover Halfway Pond Conservation Area?
I discovered Whippoorwill and Blackmer Hill trails on my own but did not discover the Conant Storrow and Joe Brown trail sections until I walked them with Malcolm on March 15th.
How did you discover the AAP program?
I was informed about the program by Betsy Hall, another AAP volunteer at Halfway Pond. She noticed that I came out to the trails a lot and then proceeded to tell me about the program.
What is your favorite thing to do while out on monitoring visits?
I love to pay attention to everything around me. I spend my time looking for wildlife and taking in my surroundings.
What are some highlights for you along the Halfway Pond trail loop?
Big Point is my favorite part of the trail because you get a panoramic view of the whole pond. It makes you feel like you are the only person in the world. I come across it right at the beginning of my hikes usually.
What have been your favorite wildlife sightings at Halfway Pond?
One of my favorite wildlife sightings has been a fox that crossed right in front of me on the trail. I have also had several close encounters with deer. I’ve seen a bald eagle over the pond from Mast Road but not while on the actual trail loop. I’ve seen evidence of coyotes too but never actually seen one. Blue herons and turtles are also some nice sightings I see along the pond. I have also frequently seen and taken pictures of a pair of swans that I was very excited to see with seven cygnets one time. I had to take a lot more pictures on that occasion. I also love to take pictures of the lady slippers that come up in May.
What is the most memorable experience you have had while at a Wildlands property?
I remember walking out to the large European beech at Emery Preserve West on a Post Feast Waddle as being a special memory. Other than that, the aforementioned wildlife sightings are memorable experiences.
What is your favorite thing about AAP?
It feels rewarding to clean up the trails and see the difference day-to-day in having clear trails. It’s also nice to not have deadlines when you go out to the trails and have the freedom to visit them when you want. Additionally, during quarantine times, walking the trails is a good connection to the outside world because it creates an opportunity to bump into people. For example, one time in early summer, I encountered and spoke with a couple, which ended in an invitation to go kayaking with their group the following week. On other occasions, I have encountered people who have been able to share history of the area, as well as their favorite spots for wildlife sightings.
Enjoying the winter weather while snowshoeing in the Berkshires.
Do you have a favorite time of the year to visit Halfway Pond?
I love wintertime because you can see everything from the trail without foliage blocking your view. Also, there are no mosquitoes and you don’t sweat during the winter. Spring is also great because you get to see everything in bloom, the turtles are out, as are the vernal pools. Fall is also beautiful of course. I really like the trails all year round, apart from 95 degree summer days.
Do you have a favorite Wildlands property to walk outside of Halfway Pond?
I mostly just walk the trails at Halfway Pond, but I have been to Emery Preserve several times because it is conveniently right here in Plymouth.
Outside of Wildlands’ properties, are there any nature preserves in the region that you like to visit?
Some of the other regional properties I have enjoyed are:
Kingston: Muddy Pond (New England Wilderness Trust)
Mashpee: Mashpee River Reservation (The Trustees of Reservations)
Plymouth: Black Cat Preserve (Town of Plymouth), Hio Hill (Town of Plymouth), Center Hill (Town of Plymouth)
Rochester: East Over Reservation (The Trustees of Reservations)
Sandwich: Lowell Holly (The Trustees of Reservations), Talbot’s Point (Town of Sandwich)
Wildlands’ Volunteer Spotlight Series showcases the interests and experiences of Wildlands’ dedicated volunteers. If you’d like more information on volunteering with Wildlands, please visit our volunteer page or contact us directly.
New Trail Configuration at Pudding Hill
Volunteers help create 0.4-mile connector trail at Pudding Hill Reservation in Marshfield.
By Stewardship Manager Erik Boyer
Mike Arsenault assists stewardship staff with raking debris from the trail.
This past September, with the help of nine Adopt-a-Preserve (AAP) volunteers, a new .4-mile trail was created at Pudding Hill Reservation in Marshfield. This project was the vision of AAP volunteer Dodie Frank who has been a steward at Pudding Hill for the past two years.
I met Dodie out at the preserve on a muggy, July morning to bushwhack and flag a new trail from the neighborhood trail entrance off Old Ocean Street to a dead-end trail on the west side of the property. We chose a route that consisted of rolling hills, old stone walls and thick stands of white pine saplings. This new connector turns the .5-mile cross-shaped trail into a 1.1-mile loop with varied topography. Over the course of three days in September, we cut through thick brush, established a rough trail tread, and then regraded sections of the trail to make for easier hiking. We then blazed the path and ensured it was ready for the first guided hike held at the property in mid-October.
Now, thanks to the hard work of many, a visit to Pudding Hill provides for a challenging, wooded, 30-minute hike on the north side of the property and a leisurely, short stroll through a meadow to an overlook spot on Chandlers Pond. I would like to give a special shout out to Dodie for her efforts and to Mike Arsenault, Stephen Connolly, Rob MacDonald, Janine Anderson, Bill Vickstrom, Roger Janson, Marilynn Atterbury and Kevin Walsh for helping out.
A Farewell and Thank You to Wildlands Trust
It is amazing how fast 11 months can fly by. It feels like only a couple weeks ago I moved from central New Jersey to begin my AmeriCorps service term with Wildlands Trust as a land stewardship coordinator. A highlight of my time at Wildlands has been the tremendous variety of landscapes at the preserves I have been fortunate to steward. From the hemlock groves of Tucker Preserve in Pembroke to the wide, open meadows of Great River Preserve in Bridgewater and so many more. I have appreciated the delightful mixture of habitats that I have been exposed to throughout my time here.
When I started at Wildlands, I thought that much of my time would be devoted to managing trails, but the position offered a much wider range of experiences. Tasks such as building benches or training new volunteers, while at first challenging, developed into new skills through the aid and supervision of friendly Wildlands staff. I most enjoyed the ever-changing variety of responsibilities because it has made me a more flexible and open-minded individual.
Leading the way through Stone Farm Conservation Area at Brockton Nature Festival (October 2019).
This fall, I will be attending Duke University’s environmental management graduate program with a concentration in ecosystem science and conservation. Throughout this exciting new chapter, I hope to continue deepening my knowledge of our surrounding habitats and how to best protect them. I owe Wildlands a lot of credit for helping prepare me for this new experience.
I would like to thank those who supported me throughout my service term. First off, I would like to thank the entire Wildlands community for being welcoming and supportive throughout this chapter of my life, especially Erik Boyer and Conor Michaud for being supportive supervisors. Thank you to the Brockton High School Envirothon team, a fun and bright group of students, who invoked a feeling of nostalgia from my own high school experience. Thank you to Rachel Calderara, Joyce Voorhis, Melissa Kelly and Hayley Leonard, who also support the Envirothon team. Thank you to the TerraCorps staff as well, especially Mackenzie Sains, Hanna Mogensen and Marissa Patterson, who were always helpful in guiding me towards the goals of my service.
I would like to also give an immense thank you to all the volunteers I worked with on work days or Adopt-A-Preserve trainings. You are invaluable to the execution of Wildlands’ mission and I had a blast getting to know such an interesting, eclectic group of people. Although this is a farewell for now, I am confident I will return to walk some of the many scenic trail systems, see past co-workers and reconnect with volunteers.
- Eamon Horrigan
Indian Head River Trail Enhancements Continue Thanks to the Efforts of Many
Following centuries of changes along the Indian Head River, the towns of Pembroke, Hanson and Hanover work together with Wildlands Trust to improve the surrounding trail system with a MassTrails Program grant.
By Community Stewardship Program Manager Conor Michaud
Rivers are the multi-tool of the natural world, harnessed by people, they support burgeoning populations and have played a key role in shaping our civilization. Before industrialized society, rivers were free-flowing. Unobstructed by dams and development, these waters naturally deposited nutrients and sediments along the river corridor, housed essential native breeding grounds for migratory fish and provided for a biodiverse ecosystem. Today, free-flowing rivers are globally threatened, with only several remaining in Massachusetts and the North River being the only one in Wildlands’ service region.
What remains of the Waterman Tack Factory dam rest along the shores of the IHR.
The Indian Head River (IHR), a tributary of the North River, was transformed from its free-flowing state centuries ago. Throughout the 17th century and up until the early 20th century, the IHR fueled the local economy and proved an invaluable resource. As industry left the river, mills eventually ceased production, dams collapsed and the forges cooled. The train which once ran along the shoreline is long gone, its former path converted into a nature trail some years ago. For nearly four miles, the river now flows peacefully through Pembroke, Hanover and Hanson, and in many places, large swathes of the riparian corridor and forests have been conserved to help protect this treasured habitat.
In 1993, Wildlands was gifted Tucker Preserve in Pembroke, one of Wildlands’ most popular conservation areas. The northern side of Tucker sits against the IHR, affording hikers stunning views and fishing access, while the southern upland forest showcases shady hemlock stands and old rock walls, vestiges of former agricultural land. The three towns through which the IHR flows — Pembroke, Hanover and Hanson — have each conserved land along its banks and in 2018, Pembroke received funding from the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s MassTrails Program to improve the trail system on the surrounding conservation lands and increase public stewardship along the river. Over the last two years, Wildlands has managed the IHR Trail Project for the town, working with representatives from Pembroke’s conservation commission, Hanover and Hanson’s open space committees, Hanover’s Department of Public Works, and the North and South Rivers Watershed Alliance to enhance the 4-mile trail loop encircling the IHR.
The Indian Head River flowing east from State Street.
Adequately protecting the IHR, its riparian areas and nearby upland forests requires more than trail stewardship though, it requires volunteer contributions and the devotion of local residents who will continue to assist in conservation efforts long after the MassTrails grant is complete. Throughout the IHR Project, Wildlands has focused on public outreach through guided hikes, volunteer trail work events and recruitment of volunteers to our Adopt-A-Preserve program. From these efforts, a tremendous amount of volunteer support has been shown, with over $7,000 of volunteer match time collected. Most recently, local photographer Andrew Lederman generously donated his time and skills to document the preserve’s natural beauty, as well as the remnants of the IHR’s former industrial life (featured in this article). Earlier this spring, Hanover’s Department of Public Works assisted Wildlands in creating a formal parking area along Water Street, a welcome addition as trail usage continues to grow, and this summer, Wildlands will work with a boy scout from Hanover to install new trailhead kiosks and educational signs along the trail system.
Massachusetts has a long industrial history, from the massive farming culture during the 18th and 19th centuries, to mills and factories that dammed our rivers, altered the landscape and ultimately shaped our communities. The IHR Conservation Area and the IHR Trail Project are opportunities for us to study our industrial past and the impacts of having manipulated the formerly free-flowing river. The IHR Conservation Area provides a space to track the native fish species which struggle to navigate the Luddam’s Ford fish ladder, shedding light on the impacts of dams and the benefits of protecting natural free-flowing rivers. Most importantly, the IHR Trail Project demonstrates a collaborative success and the importance of spanning town boundaries to protect what little conservation land remains in our rapidly developing towns.
The Indian Head River is an incredible resource and outdoor enthusiasts, anglers and families seek its utilities all year long. Offering miles of trails, fishing, picnicking and water craft recreation, the IHR stands out as a top nature destination in the South Shore. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Wildlands has seen a surge in trail users. On weekends, the parking lots are often filled and the shores are lined with hopeful fishermen and women. Wildlands reminds you to please stay on marked trails, pickup and carry out your dog’s waste, and respect fellow hikers by following social distance guidelines. Our work at Tucker Preserve and the IHR is successful because of our dedicated volunteer base and the people who respect these natural spaces. If you are interested in learning how you can help protect your conservation land please send us an email (info@wildlandstrust.org) or give us a call (774-343-5121).