Ann rakes the new trail at North Fork Preserve in Bridgewater.

By Ann Chadwick-Dias

On the last day of 2023, I arose from bed in eager anticipation of a morning group hike around Halfway Pond in Plymouth led by Malcolm MacGregor, fondly known as the "Trail Guy" of Wildlands Trust. The Halfway Pond trail loop, jointly protected by Wildlands and the Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game, has always been one of my favorite hikes in Plymouth. I try to do this hike at least once a month with my ex-husband, Steve.

So, I spent my morning bidding farewell to 2023, doing my favorite hike with my favorite conservation group along with an awesome group of like-minded hikers on what happened to be an absolutely beautiful day.

Last Day Hike with Malcolm on December 31, 2023, at Halfway Pond Conservation Area in Plymouth. (Ann is hiding behind the woman in the turquoise fleece!)

Fittingly, I spent the first day of 2023 hiking Tucker Preserve in Pembroke, which is another lovely property protected and maintained by Wildlands Trust. Did you know that recent research shows that spending time in nature combats depression and anxiety? Attending group hikes (and otherwise recreating outdoors) is crucial for my physical and mental health, and a perfect way to usher in or out a new year. It's also a great way to spend all those days in between. It is my year-round way of life—to hike, run, bike, and spend as much time as I can outside.

Wildlands offers me countless opportunities to engage my passions in conservation and recreation. The staff at Wildlands Trust is a small yet amazing group of intelligent, motivated, educated, and truly kind people who continually push their organization to improve and expand. They now protect properties in 55 Southeastern Massachusetts communities!

In addition to attending hikes and other programs, Steve and I volunteer for Wildlands, assisting the stewardship staff with various trail work and maintenance tasks. Through their regular volunteer events, we get great exercise and enjoy plenty of laughs and camaraderie. Wildlands is a lively and fun group. I feel truly accomplished when I work on a new preserve from start to finish.

Hike with Malcolm on May 7, 2023, at Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth. (Ann is second from the left in the front row!)

At every volunteer outing, the Wildlands stewardship crew stresses that they only want us to do whatever work we're comfortable doing for as long as we're comfortable doing it. They are always truly appreciative of our help. Their appreciation often catches me off guard because I feel like I should be thanking them for giving me a healthy way to engage in the protection of our natural resources.

I recently turned 60. At my age, you find yourself in conversations about what your legacy will be after you no longer walk this planet. For many, "legacy" often equates to financial or real estate assets. But to me, the work I do with Wildlands is the legacy I feel most invested in and proud of. I like to imagine my children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren walking these trails and thinking, "My (grand)mother helped to build and maintain these trails. She spent many hours walking and enjoying these lovely paths and vistas." My optimistic self likes to believe that people will enjoy and benefit from these trails for hundreds of years. What better legacy could one dream of leaving behind?

Volunteer appreciation lunch & hike on December 9, 2023, at the Stewardship Training Center in Plymouth. (Ann is crouching in the middle!)

I should add that any involvement you choose with Wildlands Trust is likely to be multi-generational. While retirees might have the most time to offer, the Wildlands team is what I would call young, and many participants use their employer’s or school’s allotted volunteer time to spend the day advancing a cause they care about. Wildlands also engages students directly through year-round service-learning programs, fostering a whole new generation of environmentalists committed to preserving this beautiful planet!

Lastly, Wildlands makes it possible for me to continually learn new things. I learn something new during every hike and project I do with them, since their staff offers expertise in various environmental fields. This year, I got CPR and basic first aid certified through a program they offered. I've attended talks and training sessions on invasive plant species, regional rewilding projects, fireflies, and more. My involvement with Wildlands even inspired me to seek appointment to Carver’s Conservation Commission, which I am currently serving.

Now, back to the Last Day Hike with Malcolm. It felt good ending my year the same way I started it—outdoors, with a lovely group of nature appreciators. I stood up on the Big Point lookout (an awesome vista) and reflected on my 2023—a year of joy, fulfillment, and constant learning.

Volunteer trail work day at North Fork Preserve in Bridgewater. (Ann is fourth from the right in the back row!)

So, if you want to be happier, healthier, and more productive, self-aware, and informed, I strongly recommend getting involved with Wildlands. While a financial contribution is certainly helpful, I think you have even more to gain by hiking or volunteering with them in the very spaces they work to protect.

An environmentalist I truly admire is John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club. If you become a member of Wildlands, you will surely realize his life advice: “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”

I have taken more dirt paths than I will ever be able to count, in large part thanks to Wildlands Trust. In doing so, I feel happier, healthier, and more connected to nature and my community. I have made lasting and meaningful friendships and left a small but significant legacy that I hope others will enjoy well after I am no longer here. But, while I AM still here, if you decide to get involved with Wildlands, I hope to see you along one of those dirt paths one day. I promise that we will both leave that trail better for it. Happy 2024!

Want to get involved? Visit our Events page for hikes, presentations, and more, and our Volunteer page for opportunities to lend a helping hand!