Conservation

05/26/2013

Weekly Outdoor Events: WWTD (What Would Thoreau Do?) May 27 – June 2

One day doesn’t seem enough for a celebration of the brave men and women who serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces. Frequently filled with burgers, hot dogs, and s’mores, Memorial Day weekend has become, simultaneously, a weekend-long celebration of that service and an indicator that summer is just around the corner.

After the food is finished, what better way to relax and reflect upon the holiday than to take a walk around Walden Pond? On May 27 from 11am – 12pm and 2pm – 3pm, join a park interpreter to learn about Henry David Thoreau’s life and legacy. Perfect for all ages, the program incorporates a half-mile hike around the pond to the original location of Thoreau’s house.

Halfway through the week, on Wednesday May 29, let Mother Nature give you a natural energy boost. Take a stroll through the blooms in Maudslay State Park. Beginning at 6pm, this program lasts an hour; forget your woes of work in the ambiance of these annual blossoms and their spectacular array of colors, scents, and sights.

Grab your worms and work your way to the water - June 1 and 2 is Statewide Free Fishing Weekend!!! For these two days, you won’t need a license to fish in any body of water throughout the state! Parents, this is the perfect time to help your kids learn the merits of patience: Walden Pond is hosting a free fishing clinic for children ages 8-15 from 8am – 10:30am. If you’re a beginner, make your way out to either Family Fishing Day at Turner Falls, or the 22nd Annual Horn Pond Fishing Festival (from 10am-2pm and 9am-1pm respectively), where amateurs can learn about regional fish, safety, ethics, and equipment.

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05/25/2013

Preserving the Massachusetts Landscape

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has deep roots in the preservation of the Massachusetts landscape, growing from the former Metropolitan Park System (1893), the nation’s first regional park system, and from one of the country’s first state parks systems (1898). Built over a century of preservation and stewardship, the Massachusetts state parks are a rare collection of buildings, sites, monuments and landscapes that reflect our shared history. As a leader in landscape preservation, DCR has developed innovative programs to preserve the cultural landscapes in the state parks and beyond, which we celebrate as part of Preservation Month: Stories in Stone.

This year DCR is pleased to partner with the Friends of Borderland State Park in preserving the historic Rock Garden at Borderland State Park. The garden had become severely overgrown, and a 1977 planting scheme had introduced hundreds of maintenance-intensive plants. With the goal of returning the balance of vegetation and stonescape and lessening the maintenance burden, DCR developed a rehabilitation plan. Contributions from the Friends were matched by DCR, and work began last fall. This spring work will be complete with additional plantings and iron fencing.   

The award-winning Terra Firma technical bulletin series is a cornerstone of the public education arm of DCR’s Historic Landscape Preservation Initiative. The bulletins cover landscape preservation fundamentals as well as emerging issues. Delivered in a non-academic format and beautifully illustrated, Terra Firma gets information into the hands of professionals and non-professionals alike. This year DCR was pleased to reissue a revised and updated version of Terra Firma #2: Caring for Mature Trees covering basic tree care as well new information on threats to historic trees such as the Asian longhorned beetle and the emerald ash borer. All publications are free. To be added to our mailing list, please visit the program website http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/histland/publications.htm.

DCR’s Historic Cemetery Preservation Initiative has helped communities and our own park staff tackle the tough job of preserving historic burial grounds and cemeteries. DCR’s own inventory includes 70 cemeteries – from the Shurcliff-designed Quabbin Park Cemetery to multiple family plots in our forests and parkland. This spring DCR will once again work with a professional conservator to stabilize priority gravestones at Quabbin Park Cemetery as part of an ongoing preservation maintenance program. DCR’s Cemetery Preservation Guidelines have been distributed to cities and towns in Massachusetts and used as a model for cemetery preservation across the nation. A CD-Rom of the Guidelines was included in the 2011 release of Terra Firma #10 Mourning Glory: Preserving Historic Cemeteries at a DCR sponsored Historic Cemetery Preservation workshop attended by over 200 people.

DCR’s projects and educational programs promote the preservation of the Massachusetts landscape and the protection of special places that improve our quality of life. But everyone can be a steward of our cultural heritage. Start by learning more during DCR’s Preservation Month.

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05/09/2013

Celebrate Massachusetts Rivers and Wetlands - May 11-12!

The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) recently put out an events calendar marking May and June as “Massachusetts Rivers and Wetlands Months” celebrating river- and wetland-related activities across the state.

The 2013 Massachusetts Rivers and Wetlands Months Calendar contains detailed information and links to more than 275 events in, along or about the rivers and wetlands of Massachusetts taking place from April 27 to July 4. Upcoming events include kayaking trips, riverside picnics, canoe races, birding in salt marshes, fishing derbies, river cleanups, overnight camping trips, and nature hikes.

Here’s a brief sample of events taking place the weekend of May 11-12:

May 11 (Saturday) – IPSWICH RIVER – Birding Paddle Trip through Wenham Swamp, 6:00 AM – 10:30 Great_Blue_Heron,_WadingAM, co-sponsored by the Ipswich River Watershed Association and the Essex County Ornithological
Society. Paddle the Wenham Swamp section of the Ipswich River while birding with the experts at the
height of warbler migration! Put in is at Route 97/High Street in Topsfield, and take out is at Willowdale Meadows, on Topsfield Road near Bradley Palmer State Park. Click here or contact Cynthia at cingelfinger@ipswichriver.org or call (978) 412-8200 for more info.

May 11 (Saturday) – HOUSATONIC RIVER – River Cleanup Paddle in Pittsfield and Lenox, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, co-sponsored by the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) and the Berkshire Environmental BEAT Housatonic CleanupCrew2Action Team (BEAT). “Bring your own boat or reserve a canoe. We will use boats (canoes and kayaks) to pick up trash that has collected behind downed trees. One group will launch from Fred Garner Park and head south to Decker Landing, while another group will launch from Decker and paddle south and then return to Decker Landing.” Pre-registration required; if you want to start from Decker Landing, please contact Alison Dixon [adixon@hvatoday.org,  (413) 394-9796]; or, if you want to start from Fred Garner Park and paddle to Decker Landing, please contact Jane Winn at jane@thebeatnews.org or (413) 230-7321.  Click here to download a flyer on this event; all participants will be treated to a picnic lunch.

May 11 (Saturday) – ESSEX RIVER (NORTH COASTAL WATERSHED) – Essex River Race, sponsored by Essex River Racethe Cape Ann Rowing Club. Registration begins at 8:00 AM; the first race heat sets off at 10:00 AM. The Essex River Race is a 5.5-mile, open water event starting at the Essex River Bridge at Route 133 in Essex, out behind the barrier beaches of Ipswich and back. Participants row or paddle small boats through one of the most scenic tidal areas in New England. Occasionally the water can be very rough, with strong winds and currents. Click here for an overview of the race and here to participate, or contact Suzanne Sweeney for more info.

May 12 (Sunday) – CHARLES RIVER – Nahanton Park Mother’s Day Bird Walk Trip, 8:00 AM start, sponsored by the Newton Conservators.  Nahanton Park offers a mix of woodlands, wetlands, edge habitat and meadows along the Charles River, making it one of the best birding spots in Newton for both migratory and resident songbirds. Likely finds include brightly colored Egret at Nahanton Park, Newtonwarblers, vireos, and orioles. Also expect bluebirds, scarlet tanagers, swallows and brown thrashers. Enter the park at the Nahanton Street entrance next to the river. Parking is available inside the park. Bring binoculars if you have them. Beginners as well as experienced birders are welcome. Boots are recommended. Walk will be cancelled in steady rain.  Click here or contact co-leaders Alison Leary (617) 821-5619 or Haynes Miller (617) 413-2419 for more info. (Co-sponsored with Friends of Nahanton Park)

May 12 (Sunday) – HERRING RIVER (CAPE AND ISLANDS WATERSHED – Paddle the Herring River in Harwich, 12:00 Noon start, sponsored by the Kayak and Walk Cape Cod Meetup Group. “The Herring Herring riverRiver is a scenic waterway, surrounded by over 200 acres of Harwich Conservation Lands.  We always see birds along the river bank and expansive marsh.  We’ll head to the end of the river where the culvert allows water to flow into and out of the reservoir in Bell’s Neck”. Click here for basic info on this group and its paddling trips and here to sign up or for more specific info on this event.



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05/07/2013

Celebrating Historic Preservation Month

I’m pleased to announce the kickoff of Historic Preservation Month in Massachusetts and throughout the country. DCR is once again celebrating through the month of May by showcasing its preservation efforts at events held at historic properties throughout our state parks. This year’s theme is Stories in Stone, which will highlight the important role of stone in the history of the Commonwealth.

In addition to its role as a recreation and natural conservation agency, DCR is the steward of some of the Commonwealth’s most significant historic resources. From the peaks of the Berkshires to the shores of the Cape, we are charged with the management and protection of literally thousands of such historic wonders. As a result, DCR is one of the most active historic preservation organizations in the country. Whether managing hands-on preservation projects, documenting our portfolio of resources, spearheading nationally recognized preservation initiatives, or working closely with DCR staff to ensure the protection of cultural resources at our parks, DCR takes its preservation mission seriously. 

Visitors can experience history firsthand by enjoying guided walks and programs at the rubble footprints of an abandoned town, an elegant stone mansion, or a towering monument. Take the rare opportunity to go behind closed doors and learn about how DCR is meeting the challenge of preserving such a vast and varied collection, including dams, bridges, and parkways, Native American landscapes, commemorative monuments,  stately mansions, simple farmhouses, the famous Plymouth Rock, and the mysterious Dighton Rock. This May, take the opportunity to get to know your history.  You may never look at a stone wall the same way again. Visit www.mass.gov/dcr for a roster of events and programs.

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05/03/2013

Weekend Outdoor Events - May 3-6: Getting Outdoors and Fishing Fun!

 On Saturday, May 4, head over to the Freetown State Forest and strap on your hiking boots and experience the vastness of the unbroken forest on a walk that spans the full length of the 13,600-acre bioreserve. From old mill ponds to abandoned farm sites to vernal pools to cedar swamps - you won't believe the wilderness right in our own backyard. The full hike is 12 miles, but pick-ups will be available every few miles along the way and transportation will provided back your car.

This program is co-sponsored with The Trustees of Reservations, MassWildlife, and the city of Fall River. This hike is suitable for adults. Program is free and open to the public. Rain or shine. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. Meet at the pavilion located near the main parking lot at Freetown State Forest. The Bioreserve Big Walk takes place 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. For more information call (508) 636-4693 x103. For directions, go to http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/southeast/free.htm

 

Also happening this weekend is a number of fishing derbies and festivals across the state! Cast a line; learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available at each event.

  • On Saturday, May 4, the Needham Recreation Family Fishing Derby is taking place at the Needham Reservoir from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Needham Recreation Commission. Contact: Karen Peirce (781) 455-7521.
  • The Westborough Spring Fishing Challenge is also happening on Saturday on Sandra Pond at the Minuteman Park in Westborough from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Contact MassWildlife’s Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309 or email jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.
  • For those in the Charlton area, the Snows Pond Family Fishing Festival is happening on the shores of Snows Pond, located at Fay Mountain Farm off Cemetary Rod from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Charlton Conservation Commission. Contact: Charlton Conservation Commission, Todd P. Girard (508) 248-2247 or email: todd.girard@townofcharlton.net.
  • On Sunday, May 5, the Brookline Reservoir Family Fishing Festival is taking place in Brookline! From 9:00 a.m. – noon, MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Brookline Recreation Department. Contact Stephanie Springer by email sspringer@brooklinema.gov for more information.

And don’t forget to check out the Great Outdoors interactive Google calendar for a full calendar of Massachusetts outdoor events.

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05/02/2013

Celebrate Massachusetts Rivers and Wetlands - May 4-5!

As warmer spring weather draws outdoor enthusiasts to the Commonwealth’s wetlands and waterways, the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) recently put out an events calendar marking May and June as “Massachusetts Rivers and Wetlands Months” celebrating river- and wetland-related activities across the state.

The 2013 Massachusetts Rivers and Wetlands Months Calendar contains detailed information and links to more than 275 events in, along or about the rivers and wetlands of Massachusetts taking place from April 27 to July 4. Upcoming events include kayaking trips, riverside picnics, canoe races, birding in salt marshes, fishing derbies, river cleanups, overnight camping trips, and nature hikes.

Here’s a brief sample of events taking place the weekend of May 4-5:

IMG_4731 housatonicMay 4 (Saturday) – HOUSATONIC RIVER – Beginner bird walk at Housatonic Flats in Great Barrington, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., sponsored by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC).  Join BNRC staff at the Housatonic Flats Reserve for a 2-hour stroll at this promising birding site.  Terrain is flat, level ground along the Housatonic River.  Wear long pants and shoes; bring water and a snack.  “This walk will help take you from feeder birds (blue jays, chickadees) to the birds of field and forest.  It’s the perfect forum for a beginner to ask all his/her bird questions.  Can’t tell a robin from a crow?  No shame – we’ll show you how we do it.  After just one walk you’ll amaze your friends with cheap birding tricks!”  Housatonic Flats is on Route 7 in Great Barrington, just north of the WSBS radio tower, right across the street from Bridlewood Home Furnishings (434 Stockbridge Road).  Currently the site has no signage, though a temporary “Event” sign will be posted there that day.  Click here or contact Doug Bruce at (413) 499-0596 or dbruce@bnrc.net for more info. 

May 4 (Saturday) – MILLERS RIVER – Millers River Trail Hike in Athol and Royalston, sponsored by the Worcester Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club. This will be an 8-mile, moderately-paced hike with Millers riverErving-Castle_recweban 800-foot elevation gain and scenic views of the Millers River. Part of the hike route will be on the new Quabbin to Monadnock (Q&M) Trail and the new Pequiog Community Trail (PCT).  Bring lunch, water, snacks. Severe weather cancels.  There is an option to socialize at the South Royalston Country Store at the end of the hike. Pre-registration required; click here or contact trip leaders Dan Bolton [(978) 895-3979] or Mike Foley [mjfoles@msn.com] to sign up or for more info.

May 4 (Saturday) – MASHPEE RIVER (CAPE AND ISLANDS WATERSHED) – Paddle the Mashpee River in Mashpee, 10:00 a.m. start, sponsored by the Kayak and Walk Cape Cod Meetup Group. “Paddle through the Mashpee Woodlands MashpeeriverConservation Area, perhaps seeing nesting marsh wrens and red winged blackbirds along the shoreline and always osprey overhead.  It is a beautiful paddle, end to end.” Click here for basic info on this group and its paddling trips and here to sign up or for more specific info on this event.

May 5 (Sunday) – WARE RIVER (CHICOPEE WATERSHED) – Canoe the East Branch of the Ware River,  10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., sponsored by Mass. Audubon’s Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary. Discover this spectacular canoeing and hiking area located on the west side of Princeton. Much of the land along the river has been acquired for drinking water protection since the Ware River flows into the Quabbin Reservoir system to the west. Wildlife sightings abound in this area, and May is a wonderful time to be out on the water. If time permits, we will explore some of the walking trails along the river as well. We'll provide canoes, Life jackets and paddles. We'll meet at the Sanctuary and carpool to our destination. Fee: Adults $12.00/members,$18.00/nonmembers. Click here or call (978) 464-2712 to sign up or for more info.

East branch ware river

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04/26/2013

Weekend Outdoor Events - April 26-28. Celebrate Park Serve Day!

Saturday, April 27, 2013 is Park Serve Day in Massachusetts.

Park Serve Day is an initiative created by Governor Patrick to improve state recreational spaces throughout the Commonwealth by fostering a sense of a shared purpose by communities to maintain public spaces for the greater good. Most events will take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., though hours may vary by location and participants are encouraged to reach out to their local Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) park to confirm event times.

DCR will provide work gloves and equipment needed for the various projects, though participants may want to bring their own gloves or hand tools, clearly marked with the owner’s name and phone number. Power tools are not allowed. Wear sturdy shoes and work clothes, and bring sunscreen and insect repellent. All events are rain or shine, so dress appropriately for the weather. Parking fees will be waived at all DCR facilities where Park Serve projects are taking place. Drinking water and a snack will be supplied, though participants should feel free to bring their own water and food as well.

Last year, nearly 5,000 people volunteered at 53 parks across the state. In addition to collecting more than 19.5 tons of trash, those volunteers had planted over 187 trees, 167 shrubs and 1,742 flowers.

To find a Park Serve Day event near you, check the list below or search the Park Serve Day website. To register for an event, use the online volunteer application.

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04/18/2013

Weekend Outdoor Events: April 19-21

On Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., head over to the Tranquil Lake Nursery in Rehoboth for a day of gardening workshops and demonstrations. Spend Saturday brushing up on your gardening skills to get yourself ready for the gardening season ahead, whether growing plants in containers outside the classroom, in a school garden or in your own backyard. Workshops will cover digging in-ground garden beds, building raised beds, gardening in containers, seeding and seed saving, skills for planting a tree, pruning and more.

Sponsored by Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom in collaboration with Tranquil Lake Nursery, Rehoboth, this event is free and open to educators, school gardeners and the public. Bring your own lunch. For more information visit www.aginclassroom.org or call (508) 336-4426.

Also on Saturday, Noticing Nature: A Guided Nature Program for Families is taking place at Mount Tom State Reservation; 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. See, smell, touch and hear what Mother Nature is up to in the woods and along the edges of fields. Suitable for families and curious adults, the tour will take place over short distances on gentle terrain. Meeting will take place at the Stone House Visitor Center, 77 Christopher Clark Road, at its junction with Reservation Road. Please dress for the outdoors – and possibly wet or muddy conditions. Heavy rain will cancel the event. For more information call (413) 584-6788.

On Sunday, April 21, Find Inspiration Through Nature at Miles Standish State Forest; 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Are you suffering from nature-deficit disorder? Would you like to slow down, observe the world around you, and feel a connection to the natural landscape that surrounds you? Come along on a silent walk through the woods to experience nature in a new way – through thoughtful prose and reflection.

Meet at Headquarters parking lot at 194 Cranberry Road in South Carver. This is best for adults. Dress for the weather. Call (508) 866-2580 x162 for more information and weather cancellation.

For those who live near Breakheart Reservation, one of Ranger Dan’s Nature Walks is also happening on Sunday. From 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. explore the reservation at a family friendly pace. Meet at the Dunne Visitors Center, located off Lynn Fells Parkway near Route 1 at 177 Forest Street in Saugus. CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT. Please call DCR staff at (781) 233-0834 or email lynn.hildenbrand@state.ma.us for additional information.

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04/03/2013

Another Massachusetts Farm Joins the Century Club: Davenport Maple Farm Turns 100!

Founded in 1913, Davenport Maple Farm joins the celebrated ranks of Massachusetts farms that have been in the same family for 100 years or more and which are still being farmed. Massachusetts is home to over 115 farms that have met this criteria, with more than a dozen of them having reached the 300-year milestone. These Century Farms have existed for so very many years thanks to the efforts and determination of the families who own them. Although the business plans may have changed over time, the tenacity and resilience of the families who’ve worked them has not. They’ve managed to adapt as markets and consumer demands have changed; they have thrived despite hardships from war, weather and the economy; and through it all, they have persevered.

Davenport Maple Farm Restaurant
In 2010, the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation chronicled the histories of these farms and published Massachusetts Century Farms 2010, a guide to these historic agricultural treasures.  If you have a farm, or know of one that meets the criteria, please contact Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation at (508) 481-4766 so that it may be considered for inclusion in a future edition (a limited supply of the books are available for purchase; Cost is $10.00, including shipping and handling).   

The Davenport Maple Farm is a 4th generation family-owned farm. During the year, the farm offers maple products, fresh eggs, raw milk, hay, and cordwood. At their seasonal Sugar House Restaurant (March and early April), visitors can watch and learn about the sugaring process, visit the cows and calves, and enjoy the view while waiting to eat a home-style breakfast.

And don’t miss out! April 6 and 7 is the last weekend the Maple Farm Restaurant will be open and will feature a special Yankee pot roast luncheon in celebration of this centennial. Call (413) 625-2866 for more information.

Russell-DavenportTo Note: Russell Davenport was also one of the first Faces of Massachusetts to be featured in honor of MDAR’s 150th anniversary.

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02/27/2013

Weekend Outdoor Events - March 1-3: Maple Sugar Days and More!

It’s Maple Sugar Days at the Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park this weekend! On Saturday & Sunday, March 2 and 3, 11:00am – 2:00pm, park staff and volunteers take you through the art and science of producing maple syrup. See trees being tapped, participate in gathering sap, and visit the steamy sugar house to watch syrup being made.

Tours include both indoor and outdoor elements. Please dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear for a short walk. The program is free for all ages and open to the public. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. To check on event status, please call River Bend Farm Visitor Center at 508-278-7604.

On March 2, as part of a series of Winter Talks offered by the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary, MassWildlife's Natural Communities Ecologist Pat Swain will talk about the natural (common and uncommon) communities in the Wales/Monson area. Find out what a natural community is, what types are in the area and some general information on the rare species that live in these community types. The free presentation will be at the Sanctuary at 1:30pm. Reservations are required as seats are limited. Please call 413-267-9654 or email Lduthie@norcrossws.org for reservations and information.

And on Sunday, March 3, 1:00pm - 2:30pm, join a DCR forester and a DCR naturalist for the Winter Greens Walk, a fun and frosty trek exploring our winter trees, shrubs, and groundcover! Take a hike through the forest and near wetlands to learn about Myles Standish State Forest’s winter greens. After the hike, warm up with a cup of hot chocolate and a snack!

This event is co-sponsored with the Friends of Myles Standish State Forest. Meet at the state forest’s headquarters parking lot at 194 Cranberry Road in South Carver. This event is best for adults. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy winter footwear. The walk is about 2 ½ miles; weather and ground conditions will determine route. Call (508) 866-2580 x164 for more information and for weather cancellation.

And don’t forget to check out the Great Outdoors interactive Google calendar for a full calendar of Massachusetts outdoor events.

For more great events happening this and every week, check out our outdoors calendar for events near you. - See more at: http://environment.blog.state.ma.us/blog/#sthash.tr8PLFpS.dpuf
For more great events happening this and every week, check out our outdoors calendar for events near you. - See more at: http://environment.blog.state.ma.us/blog/#sthash.tr8PLFpS.dpuf

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