2024 Wildlands Highlights: A Year to Remember
Staff holiday hike at Stewart/Person Preserve in Kingston. From left: Tess Goldmann, Amy Burt, Zoë Smiarowski, Russell Keirstead, and Paul Gallerani.
By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator
As a small, ambitious organization with a big, never-ending job, we at Wildlands Trust often forget to pause and reflect on our progress and accomplishments. The online support of the Wildlands community offers a welcome reminder of the far-reaching impact of our work. Your engagement with our website and social media accounts proved that 2024 was a year to remember at Wildlands. Read on to revisit the stories that excited, inspired, and informed you this year.
On behalf of all of us at Wildlands, thank you for another great year of protecting, stewarding, and connecting the lands and waters that sustain our local and regional communities. Whether you donated, volunteered, or simply liked and shared our posts, we couldn’t do it without you.
Top news articles of 2024
The following Wildlands news articles received the most views this year. To receive stories like these directly in your inbox, sign up for our monthly E-News here.
1. Partnership Creates Public Preserve in Bridgewater
Photo by Jerry Monkman.
In October, a public ceremony marked the opening of Wyman North Fork Conservation Area in Bridgewater, 96 acres of permanently protected land with over a half-mile of frontage on the Taunton River. The assemblage may be new, but its constituent parts—Wildlands’ North Fork Preserve and the Town of Bridgewater’s Wyman Meadow Conservation Area—have long, intertwining histories. Read more about the creative partnership that made the project possible, 25 years after the land’s protection.
2. Human History of Wildlands: Shifting Lots Preserve
Photo courtesy of Roger Janson, via Friends of Ellisville Marsh.
In February, Wildlands Key Volunteer Skip Stuck delivered the first entry in an ongoing series called “Human History of Wildlands,” in which we recount the rich and varied cultural pasts of Wildlands’ most cherished preserves. In his fascinating debut article, Skip traces the history of Shifting Lots Preserve in Plymouth, from its Indigenous legacy and agricultural heritage to its modern-day protection and restoration.
"Human History of Wildlands” has continued with great success, including captivating histories of Great Neck Conservation Area in Wareham; Willow Brook Farm in Pembroke; Stewart/Person Preserve in Kingston; Tucker Preserve and the Indian Head River Trail in Pembroke, Hanson, and Hanover; Crystal Spring Preserve in Plainville; and Halfway Pond Conservation Area in Plymouth. Read them all here.
3. Wildlands Bids Farewell to Erik Boyer, Max Phelps
As in any ecosystem, change is constant at Wildlands. This summer, two staff departures left big hiking boots to fill in our regional conservation community: Director of Stewardship Erik Boyer and Programming Coordinator Max Phelps. Read more about both of their impactful careers at Wildlands.
We also welcomed new bright minds and friendly faces to our team. Amy Burt started as our new Programming Coordinator in August. Two Land Stewards are joining us in the new year. Stay tuned!
4. Remembering Malcolm MacGregor
Photo by Drew Lederman.
Wildlands said goodbye this year to our dear friend and colleague, “Trail Guy” Malcolm MacGregor, who died in May at 81 years old. We are still grieving his loss and fondly remembering his warm presence, impactful work, and legendary hikes. Revisit our tribute to Malcolm in the article above.
5. Wildlands Raises Over $71,000 for Willow Brook Farm
Photo by Rob MacDonald.
In September, we shared the uplifting news that Wildlands raised nearly $72,000 in public donations to upgrade Willow Brook Farm in Pembroke, far surpassing our campaign goal. Our preserve improvement project, which includes replacing and repairing boardwalks, removing invasive plants, repairing the parking lot, improving trail signage, and building covered picnic tables, is well underway, so stay tuned for updates! Thank you to all who helped make 2024 the year we secured the future of this beloved natural sanctuary.
6. Hartwell Family Preserve Donated in Pembroke
In 2024, we celebrated the addition of the Hartwell Family Preserve to Wildlands’ ever-growing land portfolio. We extend our deep gratitude to Belle and Michael Barnes, who donated this 7.9-acre Pembroke woodland to Wildlands Trust in honor of Belle’s mother, Thelma Hartwell. Read more about the outsized ecological significance of our new preserve.
Top social posts of 2024
The Wildlands community showed its support on social media, as well, resulting in nearly 1,000 new followers this year across Facebook and Instagram (@wildlandstrust). The most liked, commented, and shared posts of 2024 reflect the projects and updates that resonated with you this year. Click on the images below to view the full posts.
On to 2025! Thank you for your continued support as we work to protect more of the places you love.