Willow Brook Updates Begin

Wildlands stewardship staff, with the help of volunteers, begin improvements at Willow Brook Preserve in Pembroke last month. New split-rail fencing was installed in the parking lot, creating a clear outline of the lot and protecting the surrounding vegetation from vehicles and foot traffic. Funded by a grant through the Recreational Trails Program, the scheduled work will both improve the visitor experience at the preserve and the various habitats throughout the property.

Volunteers also spent time at Wildlands’ headquarters building 10 blue-bird boxes, which will be installed in the coming months in the fields at the 167 acre former dairy farm. Benches and bog boards will also be built and installed along the trail system. The bog boards will lift visitors up off of the more well-used portions of trail, allowing for the restoration of eroded sections and protecting the surrounding habitat.

Also keep an eye out for new educational signage along the trails which will provide information on different plants and animals found on the property. Visitors and groups will be able to lead self-guided nature lessons and have the chance to see the plants and animals while they read about them.

Together with the adjacent Herring Run Historical Park and Misty Meadows Conservation Area, these three contiguous properties comprise nearly 400 acres of public conservation land and provide habitat for a number of plants and animals. The beauty of this preserve makes it a popular spot to visit on the South Shore. We greatly appreciate the dedicated volunteers who have been helping us complete these projects and we are excited for visitors of the preserve to benefit from these improvements in the coming months.

Hiker Preparedness, More Important Now than Ever

By Rachel Calderara, Outreach and Education Manager

With schools, businesses and entertainment venues closed across the region, nature preserves have seen an uptick in visitation. Wildlands Trust trailhead parking lots have been packed as people are seeking refuge in nature in Southeastern Massachusetts. At Wildlands, we are proud to continue to provide access to nature for our communities across the region. However, being prepared for your hike and practicing social distancing on the trails is imperative during this time of national emergency.

Social Distancing on the Trails:

Our preserves are available for fresh air, nature study and as an escape from the indoors. According to the CDC, the COVID-19 virus is primarily spread between people who are in close contact with each other (within 6 feet), and avoiding exposure to the virus is the best way to protect yourself from illness. We’re counting on you to adhere to social distancing practices when using Wildlands Trust preserves to protect yourself, your family, and our communities at large. Simply follow these guidelines:

1. Visit our preserves alone, with your dog or with those who you live with. Avoid using our preserves to meet up with friends and family outside your home.

2. Keep a 6-foot distance between yourself (or your party) and other visitors. 

3. Communicate with each other! If you see another visitor on the trails, communicate from a safe distance and have one party pull off the trail, allowing 6 feet of distance between parties. 

4. If you are a dog owner, keep your dog leashed at all times to avoid contact with others.

5. Avoid touching any manmade objects such a kiosks, signs, railings, etc.

6. Practice patience and kindness towards other visitors. We’re all in this together.

Being Prepared:

We always encourage visitors to be prepared with appropriate gear during their visits to our preserves. Now more than ever, it is important to be independent while on the trails, and that means being prepared with more than you might regularly bring. We recommend that all visitors carry the following items, at a minimum:

1. Water: Hydration is important all year long. While we recommend carrying extra water during warmer months, humans need water when it is cold too. Dehydration is one of the most common ailments on trails nationwide. 

2. Food: We get hungry when we exercise. Even if you don’t plan on needing it, bring a granola bar, trail mix, fruit, etc. so you can enjoy a snack in the beauty of nature if you need to recharge. (Remember to carry out what you carry in!)

3. Layers: Staying at a comfortable temperature is key during a hike. This means wearing warm layers that you can remove in the winter and wearing lightweight layers in the summer. ALWAYS bring a rain layer, even if rain is not in the forecast. Hypothermia is another common trail ailment that can be avoided by staying dry.

4. Map: Wildlands Trust maps are available for free to download or print on our website and are posted on the trailhead kiosks. If you don’t have a map with you when you arrive, we recommend taking a picture of the map on the kiosk with your smartphone. Whenever you come to an intersection, take a look at the map so you can follow along and always know where you are. Things to look out for at Wildlands Trust trails are color-coded trails on the map marked by colored trail blazes on the trees along the trail.

5. Flashlight: Say you get a little turned around on the trail during your hike. Once you’re back on track, you may end up being out a lot longer than you had planned for. A flashlight when you need it can be a real help in this situation, and it weighs almost nothing in your pack. 

6. First aid kit: Our healthcare facilities are very busy right now, so the more you can take care of yourself, the better for everyone. Make or buy a good first aid kit and familiarize yourself with its contents. If you take an unexpected fall, you can clean out and dress a minor wound yourself without needing to call for backup.

7. Fully charged phone: If you do need to call for help, the last thing you want to find in your pocket is a dead cellphone. Make sure you’re charged up before hitting the trail, and try not to use apps that drain your battery while you’re hiking. 

Finally, remember to do a thorough tick check after your visit to protect yourself from tick-borne illnesses. Your extra time outdoors this season may put you at a higher risk of picking up a tick, so be vigilant this spring, summer and fall. For more information on ticks in Massachusetts, visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/tick-borne-disease-information-for-the-public.

Being prepared and practicing social distancing will help keep us all safe as we continue to enjoy the great outdoors. Visit wildlandstrust.org/trails to find a preserve near you!

Volunteer Spotlight: Rob MacDonald

When and how did you first learn about Wildlands Trust? 

I believe I first learned about Wildlands Trust through the Willow Brook Preserve in Pembroke.   It’s pretty close to my house and one day, while driving down Route 14, I spotted the entrance.  Eventually I stopped by and explored it with a walk through the property. 

How did you discover the Adopt-A-Preserve (AAP) program?

We [Rob and his wife] had been members of Wildlands Trust before the AAP program existed and had been involved with volunteer work at Wildlands through some of your workdays. Eventually I heard about the AAP program from someone I knew who was working at [Wildlands]. They informed me that Erik [Boyer] was looking for volunteer help with the AAP program. 

Rob MacDonald (far right) poses with other volunteers at Brockton Nature Festival.

How many years have you been a part of AAP? 

Well, I was first involved with Wildlands Trust in about 1999 when I participated in a corporate workday at Willow Brook Preserve. This was an organized community service event with Bank Boston employees where we burned brush and removed invasive species to clear out the meadow habitat near the beginning of the trail system. Once AAP was created in 2014 and I heard about it, I joined shortly thereafter. 

What Wildlands properties have you “adopted”? 

Striar Conservancy in Halifax and Tucker Preserve/the Indian Head River loop, which goes through Pembroke, Hanson, Hanover, Plymouth County land, and private property. 

What is your favorite thing to do while out on monitoring visits? 

Photography. I am always looking for shots of birds while on my monitoring visits. And then, during the spring when vernal pools are active, I like to look for amphibians to photograph. Typically, I bring out a long-lens camera for pictures of birds and a macro-lens for taking close-up pictures of fungi and amphibians. 

What are some highlights for you along the Indian Head River Trail (IHRT) loop? 

The bluff in Tucker preserve where the trail cuts through a hemlock grove opposite of the tack factory along the river is a nice section of trail. I also really like the babbling stream you encounter towards the back side of Tucker. It’s one of several spots that remind me of New Hampshire. I also really like the section of trail that cuts through Rocky Run, which is beautiful town of Hanson conservation land. 

What have been your favorite wildlife sightings at Striar and Tucker? 

River otter, which I’ve encountered at both Tucker and Striar. I recently saw one at Tucker, along the Indian Head River, soon upon entering Tucker from Pembroke Conservation land. The otter was resting on the ice on the river, eating a fish that it had caught. 

When I saw an otter at Striar, I was looking out at a bend in the Winnetuxet River. I heard a bark and the otter slipped into the river behind me. I suspect it was voicing a warning signal to another otter somewhere in front of me. In terms of exciting bird sightings, I‘ve seen a wide variety of birds including barred owls, yellow cuckoos, ovenbirds, wood ducks and a palm warbler at Striar.

What is the most memorable experience you have had while at a Wildlands property? 

At Striar, I have done vernal pool walks where participants come out at night to explore what they can find in the pools. Kids and adults alike get extremely excited about the chance to dip their hands into the pools to see what they find. Many people would not normally go on hikes at night on their own so the opportunity is unique and exciting for that reason too. 

What is your favorite thing about AAP? 

The monitoring visits present you with an opportunity to pay greater attention to the place you are in. I definitely focus more on the details of the surroundings than I would on a hike. My responsibilities as an AAP member makes me much more attentive while out on a preserve. }

What is it like being a part of the volunteer hike leader program?

On several occasions, people have come to one of these Wildlands Trust hikes and mention that they were sometimes hesitant to go out and hike in the woods alone. These organized group hikes gave them the opportunity to get out in a group atmosphere and enjoy exploring the varied Wildlands Trust preserves. So being part of a program that affords these folks, who might no otherwise get out into the woods, is pretty nice. 

Are there any nature preserves in the region that you like to visit outside of the ones you adopt? 

Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area, a 1,638 acre MassWildlife-managed preserve that stretches through Hanson and Halifax is my favorite. The preserve is a habitat for beavers, otters, and many different species of birds. Burrage Pond’s landscape includes dormant cranberry bogs. Some of these ex-cranberry bog areas have remained open to develop into grassland habitats and others have been flooded to allow for habitat for aquatic birds. The management area also includes an interesting floodplain habitat along Stump Brook River that supports Atlantic white cedar and eastern hemlock trees. 

I know you have visited for these trails for many years. Have you seen the area change over the years?

I’ve been walking the trails along the Indian Head River for at least 25 years. As for changes, the Hanover section of trail has become more formalized is now a well-marked trail. Also, on the western section of the trail loop, where you cross the bridge on State Street in Hanson, the trail used to be difficult to find because it was completely unmarked. That entrance has now been opened up and is much easier to find. Overall, the trail system has become more formalized and clearer while maintaining the same peaceful and wild feeling I got hiking these trails 25 years ago.  

As a resident of Hanson, how do you think the community can benefit from a natural resource like the Indian Head River Trail? 

The Indian Head River trail system presents Hanson community members with a beautiful hike along the Indian Head River through Rocky Run Conservation Area, a showcase example of protected, natural, town of Hanson conservation land.