Leadership Council to Be Recognized at Preserve Tour

Read Time: 2 min

By Amy Markarian, Senior Copywriter

On Friday, June 10, our 8th Annual Leadership Council Preserve Tour will be held at Great River Preserve, in Bridgewater. Wildlands Trust’s Leadership Council is composed of the generous donors who have contributed $500 or more to our annual fund, and it’s open to anyone who wishes to make such a donation. Members are welcomed into this group throughout the year, as gifts are received, and are notified through a Leadership Council invitation from our Donor Relations Manager, Sue Chamberlain. 

Leadership Council gifts are the foundation of Wildlands' annual giving, making it possible for us to continue to grow and meet the conservation needs of Southeastern Massachusetts. Our region benefits greatly from the generosity of this special group of donors--with cleaner air and water, protected wildlife and habitats, and abundant open space for all to enjoy. 

To show our appreciation for our Leadership Council, Wildlands holds a Fall Supper in the Conservation Barn at Davis-Douglas Farm each November, and a Preserve Tour at a different showcase preserve each June. Leadership Council members’ names are also recognized with a plaque that hangs at the Davis-Douglas Farmhouse at our headquarters.

The 2022 Preserve Tour at Great River Preserve promises to be a treat for our members. This stunning preserve encompasses a range of habitats and features, with over a mile of pristine river frontage along one of the most beautiful and undisturbed stretches of the lengthy Taunton River. With expansive open fields, mixed pine/oak woodlands, vernal pools, and habitat for several rare species, including the Eastern Box Turtle, few other properties along this “Wild and Scenic River” offer comparable aesthetic and ecological value.  After a delicious breakfast at the preserve, birding experts will guide the tour and offer information about the abundance of birds that inhabit the area. 

Do you, too, want to provide vital support for Wildlands’ efforts to preserve the natural heritage of Southeastern Massachusetts? Join our Leadership Council today and secure your spot at our next special event!

https://wildlandstrust.org/leadership-council 

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Wildlands Introduces Planned Giving Society: Hathaway Legacy Partners

Read Time: 2 min

By Amy Markarian, Senior Copywriter

Shifting Lots Preserve, Plymouth

Wildlands’ new planned giving society recognizes those who have included Wildlands Trust in their estate plans. Its name is inspired by the life of Mary Chilton Hathaway, a visionary conservationist who had the courage and strength to make the world she inherited a much better place. Mary spent her life in Kingston, Massachusetts – attending Kingston High School and later teaching at Silver Lake Regional High School, where she chaired the English Department. An enthusiast of physical activity, Mary always chose walking over driving. Several decades ago, Mary began noticing, with alarm, how much land was being lost to development, and thus began her battle to protect the wild spaces of Southeastern Massachusetts. Because of her energy, tenacity, and her own gifts of land parcels, future generations will know the enjoyment of open spaces and quiet woodlands.*

Watch for a response card in future mailings, inviting you to let us know if you have already included Wildlands in your will, or if you would like to learn more about ways to join the Hathaway Legacy Partners. Options for planned gifts include bequests, trusts, real estate, insurance policies and more. 

By joining the Hathaway Legacy Partners, you can help us continue to protect the natural beauty of our region and preserve the quality of our air and water. Members will be listed in the Conservation Barn at Wildlands’ Davis-Douglas Farm headquarters and invited to an annual luncheon to learn more about the progress we’re making together. We hope to see you there!

For more information or help with any estate questions, visit our Hathaway Legacy Partners page or contact Sue Chamberlain at schamberlain@wildlandstrust.org or call 774-343-5121 x114.

* Obituary of Mary Chilton Hathaway, Boston Globe (Boston, MA), 15 January 2022. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bostonglobe/name/mary-hathaway-obituary?id=32255666

Wildlands Starts the New Year with a Return to Remote Activities

By Amy Markarian, Senior Copywriter

The start of a new calendar year provides an opportunity for us to reflect on the previous year's successes and challenges, and look ahead with hope to new goals and plans for the year to come. As we reported in our Fall/Winter 2021 Newsletter, Wildlands Trust ended 2021 with much excitement about the addition of our new staff members, and we had optimistically begun a post-Covid return to in-person programming.

However, if there's one thing we've learned in the last two years, it is that thriving under challenging circumstances requires both an ability to adapt and a willingness to change! This month, in response to the surge in Covid-19 cases in Southeastern Massachusetts, Wildlands Trust made the decision to, once again, reduce our in-person interactions until it is safer for the members of our community to be together.

At this time, Wildlands' staff members are working in a hybrid model, utilizing both remote work and scheduled time in the office as needed, and our board meetings are being conducted remotely until further notice. Additionally, all indoor programming has been canceled or moved outdoors. In order to keep our community connected and our members active throughout another challenging winter, Wildlands' programming team is working hard to increase outdoor and virtual program options. Please be sure to check our website and social media pages regularly to stay up-to-date with the latest information about upcoming events!

We've done this before, and we can do it again! Wildlands Trust is committed to weathering the world's changing circumstances with you, and we will (again) look forward to seeing each other in-person soon!

New Compost Units Built for Community Garden

In October 2020, Plymouth Eagle Scout candidate Zach Lyons constructed two, new compost holding units for Wildlands’ community garden at Davis-Douglas Farm. Prior to Zach’s help, there was a single-cylinder compost bin at the garden that was only accessible from above, making it difficult to turn. The new containers, built using lumber and wire mesh, are able to be accessed from the top and side of the unit, making it easier to work the compost. Each unit is also made up of two bays, allowing for the compost to be divided by how far along in composition it is.

We look forward to putting these structures to good use during the 2021 gardening season, and having a more productive composting system in place for our community gardeners. Thank you to Lowes in Wareham for donating the lumber used, and to Zach for his hard work!