Welcome (Back), Seasonal Land Stewards!

Every summer, caring for our trails becomes a mightier task, as vegetation and visitation peak. Our Seasonal Land Stewards help Wildlands meet these increased demands on our lands, all while gaining invaluable skills for a conservation career.

According to the position description, Seasonal Land Stewards “perform tasks related to the day-to-day management and maintenance of conservation lands throughout 55 cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts.” Tasks include brush-clearing and mowing of trails, upkeep of fencing, boardwalks, and signage, and parking lot clean-up.

This year, our seasonal staff comprises new and familiar faces. Read on to learn more about these exciting additions to the Wildlands family. And be sure to say hello when you encounter them out on the trails!

Marina Smiarowski 

We are grateful to welcome back Marina for her second summer as a Seasonal Land Steward. Since she last worked on our trails, Marina completed her first year at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where she plans on majoring in chemistry. Growing up, Marina was involved with her local land trust in Branford, Connecticut, sparking her desire to pursue a career in conservation. Before Wildlands, Marina interned with the Stewart B. McKinney US Fish & Wildlife Service unit in Connecticut. 

Pat Collett 

Pat is a new face around the Wildlands office, but he is no stranger to our trails. Having grown up in Hanson, just down the road from the Indian Head River, Pat has been exploring natural areas across the South Shore for as long as he can remember. These experiences have shaped his passion for protecting the local environment. This fall, Pat will enter his junior year at the University of Maine, where he is studying environmental science. As a Seasonal Land Steward, Pat enjoys being outside every day, working with his hands to make environmental improvements that he can see and take pride in. In his free time, Pat enjoys fishing. 

Spring Open House Ends Our 50th Year in Sun & Style

On Saturday, June 8, Wildlands closed out our 50th anniversary year the same way we started it—in deep gratitude for the people who support our work. 

Our Spring Open House drew almost 150 friends and neighbors to our headquarters at Davis-Douglas Farm. Farm-to-table Brazilian food from Gnarly Vines Farm, local beer and kombucha from IndieFerm Brewing, live music by the Butch McCarthy and Bob Calderara Duo, guided hikes at Emery Preserve, and kids’ nature crafts were among the highlights of this public celebration of springtime in Southeastern Massachusetts, and of the conservation lands and leaders that make our region special.  

“It is always a special time when we can bring new and longtime members of the Wildlands community together,” said Programming Coordinator Max Phelps. “Our Open House was a big success, thanks in large part to our wonderful volunteers, who safely parked cars and led two hikes in Emery Preserve.” 

The event also featured 12 raffles featuring prizes generously donated by farms and retailers across the region. We debuted our grand prize of a Current Designs Solara 100 kayak, courtesy of Billingston Sea Kayak and the Friends of IndieFerm. Kayak raffle entries will be accepted until the drawing on August 9. All raffle proceeds directly support our restoration campaign at Willow Brook Farm. 

While most of the fun took place outside on this sunny spring day, inside the Conservation Barn lay our “50 Remarkable Years, 50 Remarkable People” photo gallery, featuring the faces and stories of some of the key contributors to our mission over the last half-century. Set apart from the rest of the honorees and adorned with flowers was the display of Malcolm MacGregor, our longtime “Trail Guy” who passed away last month. Visitors seized the opportunity to write their fond memories of Malcolm on a poster to be presented to his family. 

On behalf of the Wildlands community, thank you for making this celebration—and our entire 50th anniversary year—a moment we will never forget. We cannot wait for the next 50 years, turning your continued support into more of the places you love. 

Click through the gallery below for photos from our Spring Open House.

Brockton Gives a Hoot About Conservation

Barred owl, presented by Eyes on Owls at Give a Hoot About the Park on May 19. Photo by Janet Trask.

The verdict is in. Brockton gives a hoot about local conservation! 

An eventful month has left no doubt that this city of over 100,000 residents in northwestern Plymouth County is invested in the protection and stewardship of its natural spaces. 

On Sunday, May 19, our Give a Hoot About the Park event attracted nearly 200 people to D.W. Field Park, a 700-acre urban oasis in Brockton and Avon. Despite considerable rain, friends and neighbors of all ages flocked to see live owls, presented by Eyes on Owls. Free lunch, catered by Lady C&J Soulfood, rewarded those who braved the inclement weather!  

About a dozen community groups joined us, as well, offering information about how the public can get involved in local conservation efforts. 

“This event put local environmental stewardship on display and continued our efforts to build community at D.W. Field Park,” said Wildlands Chief of Staff Rachel Bruce. “The success of Give a Hoot was largely due to the collaborative efforts of our partners at Old Colony Planning Council, the D.W. Field Park Association, the Town of Avon, and the City of Brockton. The dedicated folks of the D.W. Field Park Initiative will continue to work to provide opportunities and resources for this community, who show up to support the park time and time again!” 

The public celebration, as well as the Town of Avon’s recent acquisition of 30 woodland acres abutting D.W. Field Park, were partially funded by the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant program. 

Less than a week later, a determined group of students from Brockton High School ventured to Wachusett Reservoir to demonstrate that the future of our region’s natural resources is in capable hands. On May 23, the Brockton High School Envirothon team competed at the 2024 Massachusetts Envirothon, putting their environmental knowledge, skills, and leadership to the test. The students rose to the occasion, placing in the top five in two categories, Wildlife and Current Issue, where this year, students presented on Clean Energy for a Sustainable Future.

“Our Envirothon team this year was almost entirely new to the competition,” said Programming Coordinator Max Phelps, who co-coached this year’s team. “It was wonderful to see their growth in knowledge and confidence over the school year culminate in amazing presentations. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the future.” 

On June 4, the Envirothon team received citations from the Brockton Mayor’s Office in recognition of their excellence at the state competition. Thank you, Mayor Sullivan and the City of Brockton, for celebrating these passionate young leaders! 

Wildlands has co-coached and sponsored the Brockton High School Envirothon team since 2015, with Manomet co-coaching since 2021. Learn more here. 

Our work in Brockton continues! For updates about our D.W. Field Park Initiative, visit dwfpi.org. 

Remembering Malcolm MacGregor

Wildlands Trust fondly remembers Malcolm MacGregor, who passed away on May 31, 2024. He was 81. 

Following the heartbreaking news, President Karen Grey shared the following with the Wildlands family: 

Malcolm came to Wildlands for a nine-month sabbatical and stayed 11 years, endearing himself to so many of us during that time. Wildlands benefitted from Malcolm’s skills, which were vast and deep. He helped us with GIS mapping, led hikes, took on woodworking projects, and most importantly, helped us navigate Plymouth town hall politics. Malcolm served on the Plymouth planning board for many, many years and was one of those rare individuals who earned the respect of everyone, even those who didn’t agree with him. 

We will remember Malcolm as a healthy and vibrant person, hiking 50-ish miles a week, and helping in any way he could to advance the Wildlands mission. 

Please get out for a hike and think of Malcolm, forever our “Trail Guy.” 

Hear also from Francis Mand, Vice President of the Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barren Alliance, about his longtime partner in Plymouth conservation: 

Along with dozens of hand-made ornaments on the town's holiday tree that represented local non-profits, there were also nearly a hundred images of the individual volunteers who give their time and effort to those organizations including—if you looked closely—one with the image of Malcolm MacGregor. 

Malcolm was elected to numerous terms on the Planning Board, was an important contributor to the work of the Wildlands Trust, and was a tireless advocate for the establishment of hiking trails throughout Plymouth. 

In the past 20 years or so Malcolm probably spent more time in the woods than out of it. Whenever I drove down Long Pond Road, or down Bourne Road, his yellow Miata was often there, peeking out of the woods—though he was nowhere to be seen. 

He didn't need any encouragement, or company, to 'take a walk,' but oftentimes he led friends down trails that you had to 'believe' were there, because you couldn't often see the path he seemed to be following. 

It wasn't actually 'bushwhacking,' maybe more akin to 'trail blazing,' so if you went with him you had to have faith he knew where he was going. 

He did. He does.  

Malcolm is free to roam at will now, and undoubtedly we will be hearing his footfall as long as Plymouth can preserve the wild places he loved so well. 

Walk on, Malcolm: we'll try to keep up. 

Malcolm’s full obituary can be found in the Plymouth Independent here.

A letter to the editor by Anatol Zuckerman recounted his friend’s early understanding of the incompatibility of status-quo development planning with the rising threat of climate change: read it here.

Above: we interviewed Malcolm in July 2023 as part of our 50 Remarkable Years, 50 Remarkable People series. You can view his entry in our anniversary book here.

Finally, learn more about Malcolm’s time with Wildlands in his staff bio: 

Malcolm MacGregor is affectionately known as “The Trail Guy” here at Wildlands. Retired from a lifelong career at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, he now spends much of his time doing what he loves most—hiking. On average, Malcolm gets out on the trails about 3-4 times a week, covering a total of 20-25 miles! He has more experience than most with the wooded trails in his hometown of Plymouth, MA, and he frequently shares his local knowledge (and continues to find and explore new routes) on the group hikes that he regularly leads. One of his favorite places to spend the day is in the woods of Plymouth’s Pine Hills, but Malcolm’s also happy when working on GIS mapping.  

Malcolm is dedicated to using his experience and knowledge to understand and anticipate the local impacts of global climate change. He was drawn to Wildlands because he believes that the protection of land, particularly forest land, is critical. He points out that while forests help to control the amount of carbon dioxide in the air everywhere, they are of particular significance in Plymouth, where vast tree cover currently protects invaluable, extensive groundwater resources. But, if you were to ask Malcolm directly about how he came to do GIS mapping here at Wildlands, he’d probably offer a more humble response, like, “Wildlands needed it, and I could do it.” 

Throughout his life, Malcolm has had an extensive public service career. He recently retired as the chair of the Plymouth Planning Board, where he served for 35 years. In total, he has spent 50 years in Plymouth’s Town government, including positions on the Conservation Commission and as the Chairman of the Board of Health. While serving the Town of Plymouth, Malcolm also established a noteworthy career in higher education. In his tenure at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Malcolm began as a professor of math and physics, but later shifted his primary instructional focus to GIS mapping for the degree programs in Emergency Management and Marine Safety and Environmental Protection that he created at the school. An academic by nature, Malcolm holds degrees from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the University of Connecticut, and conducted post-doctoral research at both the Naval Research Laboratory, in Washington D.C., and the University of Chicago. 

We miss Malcolm dearly and express our profound condolences to all of his friends, family, and admirers, who surely numbered in the thousands across Plymouth and beyond.

Please leave your memories of our beloved “Trail Guy” in the comments below.

Hartwell Family Preserve donated in Pembroke

Belle [Hartwell] Barnes with the new Hartwell Family Preserve sign at Davis-Douglas Farm in Plymouth.

In land conservation, context is key. Even a relatively small parcel can derive significant value from the people and places it connects through space and time. 

In Pembroke, an unassuming woodland looms much larger than its 7.9-acre frame when viewed within its geographic and historical context. Thanks to a generous family donation, this small yet meaningful property will carry an outsized impact on the local and regional landscape for generations to come. 

Last December, Belle and Michael Barnes donated the Hartwell Family Preserve to Wildlands Trust in honor of Belle’s mother, Thelma Hartwell. Thelma placed a Conservation Restriction (CR) on the land in 1980, when the state CR program was in its infancy. 

“Thelma was a conservationist ahead of her time,” said Wildlands Director of Land Protection Scott MacFaden. In addition to protecting her own land, Thelma served on the Pembroke Conservation Commission and wrote nature-based articles for local newspapers. 

Hear from Belle and Michael Barnes themselves about their decision to donate the family land: 

We are privileged to be able to donate the “Hartwell Family Preserve” in memory of Everett and Thelma “Teddy” Hartwell to Wildlands Trust. In 1953, Everett and Thelma Hartwell built their home at 347 Pleasant Street in East Pembroke, on a portion of property that had been in the Hartwell family since the early 1920s. They raised Everett’s sons Bob and Karl, and their children Belle and Wayne, to appreciate both the importance of stewardship of the land and the amazing habitat of flora and fauna it contained. Teddy was a die-hard conservationist with a passion for protecting our natural resources, especially wetland areas. Her career as an educator involved her teaching history, biology, and chemistry for many years. When her children were born, she housed a private kindergarten at the property and taught her students an appreciation of the nature around them. In later years, when she returned to working outside the home, she taught “Outdoor Education” for the Audubon Society in several area school systems. In the late ’70s, when she could no longer work outside the home, she wrote several articles for the Silver Lake News, focusing on subjects about protecting and enjoying our natural resources. She served on Pembroke’s Conservation Committee for several years. She helped to create two nature trails, one in Pembroke and one at Camp Wing in Duxbury. She was considered a visionary by some for putting the majority of the property’s acreage into a Conservation Restriction to forever protect this amazing ecosystem. For the above reasons, we chose to donate this land, and are thankful to Wildlands for carrying on our family’s legacy. 

– Belle [Hartwell] and Michael Barnes, April 2024 

In addition to this rich cultural legacy, the Hartwell Family Preserve holds significant ecological value: 

• Protects wildlife habitat of statewide importance: The property lies within multiple areas identified by the Commonwealth’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program as significant wildlife habitats, including: 

  •  BioMap Core Components 

    • Aquatic Core 

    • Rare Species Core

  • BioMap Critical Natural Landscape Components

    • Aquatic Core Buffer 

    • Landscape Blocks 

  • BioMap Elements

    • Core Habitat 

    • Critical Natural Landscape 

• Provides habitat and recreational connectivity: The property directly abuts a 268-acre expanse of open space owned by the Town of Pembroke. Said expanse formerly contained a reservoir used by cranberry growers, but the dam holding the reservoir breached in the early 1990s. The former reservoir area now contains a rich diversity of wetland types along the daylighted riparian corridor. 

Wildlands will manage the Hartwell Family Preserve as Forever Wild, giving local flora and fauna a permanent place to thrive in a rapidly changing world. 

We sincerely thank Belle, Michael, Thelma, and the rest of the Hartwell family for their commitment to preserving the natural beauty of our region.

To explore opportunities to conserve your land with Wildlands, click here.